his is the outermost layer of the heart, made up of connective tissue. It protects the inner structure of the heart and is also known as the visceral pericardium. It helps hold the other muscles close together and also acts as an anchor for the heart. (Taylor, 1999-2013). [4]

Blood Tissue, Its Function and Circulation

Blood is the body’s transport system and works to perform several functions. Although it is a fluid it is made up of connective tissue and is vital for the body as it could not survive or remove bodily wastes, without it cells and body tissues would die.(Anglin, 2014) The circulatory system is pumped by the heart and always circulates through the body in the same direction. Arteries carry blood full of oxygen to all parts of the body, the further away from the heart the smaller they become, eventually turning into capillaries. Blood helps to keep the body at the right temperature and maintains blood pressure and volume. It transports oxygen and carbon dioxide for delivery and disposal. It transports oxygen and nutrients to cells, removes waste and transports hormones. (Cancer Research, 2013) [2]

Plasma:

Plasma is the fluid part of blood and makes up the most volume. It is a pale straw coloured liquid of which 90% is water. It contains proteins, glucose and other dissolved nutrients. Its function is to make sure cells flow throughout the body and also helps to maintain the body’s blood pressure and volume. (Ivy Rose, 2003-2013) [1]

Red Blood Cells:

Erythrocytes are flexible disc shaped cells with no nucleus, their main function is to transport oxygen to the body’s cells and deliver carbon dioxide to the lungs. It contains enormous amounts of protein called haemoglobin, which is responsible for its dark or bright red colour. They are also important in determining your blood type. (Ivy Rose, 2003-2013). [2]