Blood and Heart Basics
Blood is made of two main components: solid blood cells (45%) and fluid plasma (55%). The solid part includes red blood cells (erythrocytes) that carry oxygen, white blood cells (leukocytes) that fight infection, and platelets (thrombocytes) that seal wounds.
Your blood type matters because different types have different proteins (antigens). You might be type A, B, AB, or O, plus either RH+ (85% of people) or RH- (15%). Type O is the universal donor while type AB is the universal receiver - mixing incompatible types can be dangerous!
The heart is a fist-sized, hollow muscle weighing about one pound, located in the chest's mediastinum. It has four chambers (two atria for receiving blood and two ventricles for pumping) and is protected by three tissue layers: the outer pericardium, the muscular myocardium, and the inner endocardium.
Fun Fact: Red blood cells have no nucleus and only live for about 6 weeks before being replaced. Your body constantly manufactures new blood cells in your bone marrow!