Blood
Blood has distinctive characteristics that make it unlike any other bodily fluid. Blood is sticky when exposed due to its components of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Blood also has a metallic taste. The metallic taste comes from the hemoglobin in the blood, which is made up of iron. Another characteristic of blood is its unique color. It can range from bright red to burgundy but remember- blood is never blue! Although water is a component in blood, its density is greater. Meaning that if you put blood droplets in water, the blood will sink to the bottom. Lastly, its temperature is higher than the rest of the body at an average of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Functions Of Blood
Blood serves many purposes throughout the entire human body. One could say it is the liquid of life. A primary function of blood is to provide nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. The oxygen travels on the red blood cell thanks to its amazing bi-concave shape. Another function of blood is to disseminate hormones in the body, or take them where they need to go. Blood also removes waste, which can range from bodily waste to cleaning up debris from a broken bone. The last function to list is that blood cells transports cells that defend the body, which are called leukocytes.
Blood Types
As if the blood in our bodies isn't unique enough, it even has its own different types! Before learning the different types though, it's a good idea to know some basic blood typing vocabulary. Surface antigens are how our blood is classified based on the presence or absence of them. Agglutinins are antibodies that are found in our plasma that attack foreign red blood cells. Agglutination is the clumping of agglutinins with the surface antigens on foreign red blood cells. Now that we've covered the basic vocabulary you can start to understand the different types.
Blood types were discovered in 1901 by Karl Landsteiner. There are four main different types of blood: A, B, AB, and O. Within each of the main types there are negatives and positives (+,-). The negatives and positives come from the Rh factor, which is based on the Rh surface antigen. Whether the blood reacts to the Rh surface antigen or not determines if it is positive or negative. If the blood reacts it is positive, if not it is negative. Thanks to the Rh factor and surface antigens we know which types of blood can be received into the body. In the instance that A- blood type receives O+, the A- blood cells will attack the O+ and eliminate them from the body.
Blood types were discovered in 1901 by Karl Landsteiner. There are four main different types of blood: A, B, AB, and O. Within each of the main types there are negatives and positives (+,-). The negatives and positives come from the Rh factor, which is based on the Rh surface antigen. Whether the blood reacts to the Rh surface antigen or not determines if it is positive or negative. If the blood reacts it is positive, if not it is negative. Thanks to the Rh factor and surface antigens we know which types of blood can be received into the body. In the instance that A- blood type receives O+, the A- blood cells will attack the O+ and eliminate them from the body.