Blood
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* K.D.Samanthika * Anatomy – Semester 01 * Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science * University of Peradeniya
Functions of Blood * Blood is pumped by the heart through blood vessels, which extend throughout the body. * Blood helps to maintain homeostasis in several ways. 1. Transport of gases, nutrients, and waste products. * Oxygen enters blood in the lungs and is carried to cells. * Carbon dioxide, produced by cells, is carried in the blood to the lungs, from which it is expelled. * Ingested nutrients, ions, and water are transported by the blood from the digestive tract to cells, and waste products of cells are transported by the blood to the kidneys for elimination. 2. Transport of processed molecules. * Many substances are produced in one part of the body and transported in the blood to another part where they are modified. * For example, the precursor to vitamin D is produced in the skin and transported by the blood to the liver and then to the kidneys for processing into active vitamin D. * Active vitamin D is transported in the blood to the small intestines, where it promotes the uptake of calcium. * Another example is lactic acid produced by skeletal muscles during anaerobic respiration. * Lactic acid is carried by the blood to the liver, where it is converted into glucose. 3. Transport of regulatory molecules. * Many of the hormones and enzymes that regulate body processes are carried from one part of the body to another by the blood. 4. Regulation of pH and osmosis. * Buffers, which help keep the blood’s pH within its normal limits of 7.35–7.45, are in the blood. * The osmotic composition of blood is also critical for maintaining normal fluid and ion balance. 5. Maintenance of body temperature. * Blood is involved with body temperature regulation because warm blood is transported from the interior to the surface of the body,
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* K.D.Samanthika * Anatomy – Semester 01 * Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science * University of Peradeniya
Functions of Blood * Blood is pumped by the heart through blood vessels, which extend throughout the body. * Blood helps to maintain homeostasis in several ways. 1. Transport of gases, nutrients, and waste products. * Oxygen enters blood in the lungs and is carried to cells. * Carbon dioxide, produced by cells, is carried in the blood to the lungs, from which it is expelled. * Ingested nutrients, ions, and water are transported by the blood from the digestive tract to cells, and waste products of cells are transported by the blood to the kidneys for elimination. 2. Transport of processed molecules. * Many substances are produced in one part of the body and transported in the blood to another part where they are modified. * For example, the precursor to vitamin D is produced in the skin and transported by the blood to the liver and then to the kidneys for processing into active vitamin D. * Active vitamin D is transported in the blood to the small intestines, where it promotes the uptake of calcium. * Another example is lactic acid produced by skeletal muscles during anaerobic respiration. * Lactic acid is carried by the blood to the liver, where it is converted into glucose. 3. Transport of regulatory molecules. * Many of the hormones and enzymes that regulate body processes are carried from one part of the body to another by the blood. 4. Regulation of pH and osmosis. * Buffers, which help keep the blood’s pH within its normal limits of 7.35–7.45, are in the blood. * The osmotic composition of blood is also critical for maintaining normal fluid and ion balance. 5. Maintenance of body temperature. * Blood is involved with body temperature regulation because warm blood is transported from the interior to the surface of the body,