How much blood is inside my body?
Blood is made up of cells and plasma. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are among the cells. Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs and are responsible for the blood's red hue. Infections are combated by white blood cells. Platelets aid in the formation of clots, which halt bleeding in the event of a wound. All of these cells float in the largely water-based liquid plasma. To combat infection, plasma also includes nutrients, electrolytes, hormones, and protein antibodies. The volume of blood in a human body varies according to age, gender, overall health, and even where a person lives. Men, for example, have more blood than women of equivalent size and weight.
People who live at high elevations may have up to two liters more blood than those who live at lower altitudes. Because the air at higher elevations contains less oxygen, individuals who live there require more blood to provide the proper quantity of oxygen to their lungs. Scientists believe that the amount of blood in a human body is about 7% of body weight. An typical adult body weighing 150 to 180 pounds has 4.7 to 5.5 liters (1.2 to 1.5 gallons) of blood. A youngster with an average body weight of 80 pounds will have around half the blood of an adult.
Blood serves several important roles in the body. It carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells of the body. It also removes waste from those cells. Blood also transports hormones and substances throughout the body. You might be shocked to find that blood also plays an important part in body temperature regulation. When your body heats up, blood helps maintain a stable temperature by carrying excess heat to the skin, where it may be expelled. Blood, as part of the immune system, aids in the battle against illness. When you scratch your knee in the park, the platelets in your blood begin to coagulate to halt the bleeding. This self-healing process avoids additional blood loss, which might be lethal in severe situations of bleeding.
