FUNCTIONS OF BLOOD

PLASMA

○    Fluid medium for transport of blood cells
○    Ferries nutrients to tissues and waste products from tissues
○    Contains clotting factors for repair

LEUCOCYTES

○    Defense of the body
    ie.    Neutrophils - fight bacteria (pus cells)
        Lymphocytes - produce antibodies, especially against viruses
        Monocytes - general clean-up (eg. inert particles)
        Eosinophils - parasitic infections and allergic reactions
        Basophils - produce histamines in immune response

PLATELETS

○ Help to form clots - become caught in fibrin mesh, produce some clotting factors

ERYTHROCYTES

○ Carry haemoglobin - oxygen transport protein

Back to Class Notes