Enumerate the various functions of the blood.

Blood performs the following important functions:
(i) Respiratory function: Blood transports oxygen from the lungs to body organs and CO₂ from body organs to lungs.
(ii) Transport of food: Blood carries digested food to different cells of the body.
(iii) Transport of hormones: Hormones are transferred from their place of secretion to their place of action through blood.
(iv) Thermoregulation: Blood also maintains proper body temperature.
(v) Regulation of water and balance of acid and base: Blood brings about the balance of acid, base and regulates water contents of the body.
(vi) Removal of metabolic wastes: Blood carries various metabolic wastes to kidney, skin and intestines for excretion.
(vii) Besides the above functions blood also protects our body against micro-organisms.
(viii) Blood also helps in the formation of a clot in the event of an injury to prevent further loss of blood.