Question
Question: How many gallons of blood are in an adult human body?...
How many gallons of blood are in an adult human body?
Solution
Blood is a type of connective tissue that flows throughout the human body and ensures the delivery of necessary substances and transportation of waste materials.
Complete answer:
The red-colored fluid circulating throughout a human’s body and delivering essential substances like nutrients and oxygen to the cell and transporting away metabolic wastes and carbon dioxide from the same cells is called the blood. It has more viscosity and density than water, and it is slightly alkaline. It occupies 7-9% of the total body weight. The four main components of blood are-
1)Plasma- occupies 55%, it is blood without all the cellular components, yellow in color, carries proteins, hormones, and nutrients, and removes wastes from the body.
2)Red blood cells or erythrocytes- gives blood its characteristic color, formed in the red bone marrow, biconcave in shape, and carries hemoglobin protein that performs oxygen transportation. 3)They are the most numerous living cells found in our blood.
4)White blood cells or leukocytes- found in body lymph and tissue, made in bone marrow, irregular shape, five types (monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils), immunity cells that fight foreign invaders, diseases, and infections.
5)Platelets or thrombocytes- small, colorless fragments formed in the bone marrow, forms a clot at the site of bleeding.
Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow through the process called Hematopoiesis. Hematopoietic stem cells present in the medulla region of bone marrow contain the potential to differentiate into all types of blood cells or formed elements.
Average human blood constitutes 7-10% of our body weight. Gallon is the unit of measurement of volume or fluids. 1 gallon equals 3.78451 liters. The amount of blood in an average adult human is equal to 5 liters or 1.2-1.5 gallons. New blood is formed constantly in our body and its filtration is performed by the kidneys. An average child will have approximately 0.7 gallons of blood in its body. The amount of blood in the body is higher in men than in women.
Blood is responsible for many functions in our body. Its main function includes- regulation of body temperature, transporting oxygen and nutrition to the body tissues and lungs, removing waste products and carbon dioxide from the body by bringing them to the kidney, clot formation at the time of bleeding, carrying immunity cells to fight against diseases, pathogens, and infections, and transports hormones.
Note: A lower hemoglobin count or blood count in our body can lead to many diseases and disorders and lead to various other health symptoms like - fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, increased heart rate, cold hands or feet, etc. The most common disease of decreased red blood cells or hemoglobin content in our body is Anaemia. The oxygen-carrying capacity of blood is reduced in this process.