Every cell in our body needs energy in order to survive. They get this energy, for example, by breaking down glucose in the presence of oxygen to release carbon dioxide and water. These substances are transported by the blood. Blood transports nutrients as well as mineral salts and vitamins, which enter our blood stream through the intestinal wall, to every part of the body, delivering them to our cells where they serve as energy sources, building materials or protective substances
In addition to delivering useful substances to our cells, blood carries waste products to the excretory organs, primarily the kidneys. Blood transports toxins – toxins that find their way into the body from outside and toxins created in the body – to organs in the detoxification system, such as the liver and kidneys, where they are converted into waste products.
Transport of oxygen
Red blood cells take up oxygen in our lungs and transport it to the cells in our tissues and muscles. There, the waste product carbon dioxide is taken up and transported by the blood to the lungs, where it is expelled when we exhale.
