In addition to oxygen, blood also carries nutrients to the body cells. The villi, tiny finger-like parts lining the small intestine, absorb nutrients from digested food. Blood picks up the nutrients from the villi. Eventually, the body cells absorb the nutrients out of the blood. Along with oxygen and nutrients, blood carries hormones and antibodies to different parts of the body.
Blood consists of blood cells, platelets, and plasma.
Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to the rest of the body. White blood cells help to fight infection. Platelets help your blood to clot when you get a cut. Here is a rough example of the Procedure used for a lab similar to the above. Learn about the Human Body Gallery .