Blood Formed Elements: Types and Cell Fragments Explained

Formed elements of blood include:

- Red blood cells (erythrocytes): These are the most abundant formed elements and carry oxygen to tissues and remove carbon dioxide.

- White blood cells (leukocytes): These cells play a role in the body's immune defenses. There are five different types of white blood cells: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils.

- Platelets (thrombocytes): These small fragments of cells help to stop bleeding by forming clots.

*Cell fragments (acellular elements) in the blood:

- Plasma: Plasma is the liquid, straw-colored matrix of blood that transports blood cells, nutrients, hormones, electrolytes, and waste products.

- Buffy coat: The buffy coat is a thin, whitish layer of leukocytes, between the red blood cells and plasma, resulting from centrifugation of unclotted blood.