10 Facts About Blood You Didn't Know

10 Facts About Blood You Didn't Know

Blood is a connective tissue in liquid form that circulates through our bodies. It is extremely important for our survival. Our blood is responsible for carrying oxygen and carbon dioxide, for carrying nutrients gotten from the food we consume to the cells of the body, for protecting our bodies against infections and diseases and at times for transporting hormones to their target organs.
However, how much do we really know about this fascinating life preserving fluid? Read on if you're ready to be surprised!

Blood facts you didn't know
Red blood cells

1. Your Body Weight



The human blood accounts for approximately 7% of our body weight. So a man who weighs 70kg has about 4.9kg of blood.

2. The Mosquito Delight


Everyone knows that mosquitoes feed on blood but did you know that recent studies have shown that they prefer type O blood to other blood groups. Also, it would take about 1.2 million mosquitoes to drain your blood. Practically impossible, right?

3. The 2-Second Demand


Did you know that every two seconds, it has been estimated that someone somewhere in the world needs a blood transfusion.

4. Pus


Almost everyone is disgusted by pus but it's nothing but white blood cells that were destroyed while defending the body from infections.

5. Multi-billion Dollar Industry


When you donate blood, it is sold to those in need of a blood transfusion to save their life. The sales in a year are worth billions of dollars.

6. Haemochromatosis


Haemochromatosis is a genetic mutation that cause the toxic build up of iron in organs because excess iron is absorbed in the gut. The only cure to this fatal disease is to donate blood at intervals!

7. Diapedesis


Red blood cells are somewhat large cells found in the blood. They are responsible for oxygenation of the body. They are biconcave in shape and are able to flow smoothly. They enter tiny capillaries by a process of diapedesis which involves slight modification to their shape and squeezing through the capillary. This property aids them in carrying out their function effectively.

8. Body Size And Heart Rate


Bigger animals have a slower heart rate than smaller animals since it takes a longer time for the blood to circulate around their bodies. The human heart beats at about 75 times in a minute while a bigger creature like the whale has an heart rate of 5 beats per minute.

9. All Blood Is Not Red


We are used to thinking that blood is red in colour. This characteristic red colour is as a result of a pigment- haemoglobin present in the blood. However, crab and other molluscs have blue blood due to the presence of haemocyanin.
Some animals like sea cucumber have yellow blood due to a high concentration of the yellow vanadium based pigment, vanabin.

10. Artificial Heart


Humans can survive on an artificial heart but there is no substitute for blood. Without blood, death ensues! There's no such thing as an artificial blood.
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