The Blood - Football Fitness

The blood vessels comprise part of the cardiovascular system, a system which is responsible for providing muscles with oxygenated blood and removing deoxygenated blood. Therefore a footballer requires an effective and efficient cardiovascular system to be able to perform at their optimum level, otherwise their muscles will not be able to complete the tasks being asked of them. 

There is approximately 5-6 litres of body within the body of an adult and it accounts for 7-8% of the total body weight. The composition of blood is:

Blood Cells

Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)
These are biconcave discs that have the main function to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body. Each red blood cell contains the protein haemoglobin, which is responsible for carrying 97% of the oxygen in the body and 20% of the bodies carbon dioxide.  However, if there is carbon monoxide present, then the haemoglobin will carry that instead of the other two gases.

White Blood Cells (leukocytes)
There are 5 different types of white blood cell but each have the same function within the body. They are all part of the immune system and are responsible for defending the body against bacteria, viruses, disease and foreign materials.

Platelets (thrombocytes)
These are small cells that circulate in the blood to create blood clots. Essential when there is a break in the skin and blood begins to escape from the body.

Plasma
Made of approximately 90% water, plasma is responsible for transporting a variety of substances around the body. The substances that can be found within the plasma are;

• Salts
• Glucose
• Fatty Acids
• Blood Proteins
• Waste Products
• Enzymes
• Hormones
• Oxygen (3% of the body’s total amount of oxygen)
• Carbon Dioxide (80% of the body’s total amount of carbon dioxide)