Function

• Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, and white blood cells produce antibodies to fight infection. Platelets are essential to blood clotting, while plasma, the liquid part of blood, regulates cell function and body temperature.
  
  

Features

• Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets account for 45 percent of blood tissue. The remaining 55 percent is plasma.
  
  

Time Frame

• Blood cell production is controlled by the body's needs, and cells are constantly being replaced. White blood cells last a few hours to a few days, platelets last about 10 days and red blood cells last about 120 days.
  
  

Volume

• An adult human body contains about 5 to 6 quarts of blood.
  
  

Fun Fact

• Blood circulates through the body three times every minute, traveling a total of 12,000 miles in one day.