Final answer:
Blood carries oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to the body's cells and removes metabolic wastes. Hemoglobin in red blood cells is essential for oxygen distribution. White blood cells and platelets in the blood assist in immune defense and blood clotting.
Step-by-step explanation:
Blood is a vital fluid connective tissue that performs an array of essential functions in the human body. As it circulates through the cardiovascular system, blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to all of the body's cells while also carrying away metabolic wastes. Furthermore, blood transports hormones such as adrenaline, which contribute to the regulation of bodily functions, and hemoglobin, which is primarily responsible for the distribution of oxygen throughout the body.
The blood also constitutes a defensive mechanism, thanks to the different types of white blood cells that form a part of the immune response, and platelets, which are crucial for blood clotting. Oxygen and nutrients are carried mainly by red blood cells, whereas hormones and wastes are transported via the blood plasma, which also comprises a majority of the blood volume, containing water, proteins, electrolytes, lipids, and glucose.