![]() ![]() The blood carries nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, sugars, fats and proteins around the body.ĭigested nutrients are absorbed into the blood through capillaries in the small intestine. (Picture: the circulatory system) Nutrients Air is breathed in, oxygen is picked up by the blood and the journey begins again. From the heart the blood is pumped back to the lungs where the carbon dioxide is released from the blood into the air sacs to be breathed out. Red blood cells then travel within veins back to the right side of the heart. Red blood cells carrying less oxygen are a duller red colour, which is why deoxygenated blood in our veins is a darker red than oxygenated. Blood keeps us alive.Īt the same time, red blood cells will pick up waste carbon dioxide that has been released from the cells and entered the blood stream. If our blood didn’t move the oxygen we breathe into our organs and tissues, we wouldn’t be able to carry out normal functions such as moving our muscles, digesting food or thinking. When the red blood cells reach tissues that need oxygen, the oxygen is released from the haemoglobin and diffuses into the cells where it is used to make energy.Īll the systems in our body rely on oxygen to make energy. Molecules with more oxygen bound to them are brighter red. It is the millions of iron-containing haemoglobin proteins that make blood red. They are small and flexible so they can fit through narrow vessels, have a bi-concave shape which maximises their surface area to absorb oxygen, have a thin membrane so gases easily diffuse through, and contain haemoglobin which binds to oxygen. Red blood cells are adapted for the transport of oxygen. The blood is then pumped around the body. These oxygen-rich cells travel in the blood vessels from the lungs to the left side of the heart. Haemoglobin molecules inside red blood cells pick up and carry the oxygen. Red blood cells squeeze through narrow capillaries in single file. The oxygen then moves into the blood by passing first through the very thin walls of the air sacs and then into the capillaries, which are tiny blood vessels in a network within the lungs. When we breathe in, the millions of air sacs in the lungs fill with fresh oxygenated air. Transporting oxygen is a vital role of the red blood cells. The heart is constantly pumping blood so it is always moving around the body. Oxygen, nutrients and hormones are delivered around the body in the blood and carbon dioxide and other waste products are removed. Blood vessels are like networks of roads where deliveries and waste removal take place. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.One of the key functions of blood is transport. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. Links to other sites are provided for information only – they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy editorial process and privacy policy. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. ![]() follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M.
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