Blood is a specialized fluid that constantly flows throughout your body. It’s made of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. It has four main components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Understanding the Context

The blood that runs through the veins, arteries, and capillaries is known as whole blood—a mixture of about 55% plasma and 45% blood cells. About 7% to 8% of your total body weight is blood. Blood circulates throughout the body, transporting substances essential to life. Here, learn about the components of blood and how it supports human health.

Key Insights

The body contains about 5 to 6 quarts (about 5 liters) of blood. Blood performs various essential functions as it circulates through the body: Once blood is pumped out of the heart, it takes 20 to 30 seconds to make a complete trip through the circulation and return to the heart.