What makes up the formed elements of blood?

• A. Plasma, serum, and fibrinogen
• B. Electrolytes, nutrients, and waste products
• C. Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
• D. Hemoglobin, myoglobin, and albumin

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that blood is composed of two main components: plasma and formed elements.
2. Recognize that the formed elements of blood are the cellular components, which include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
3. Differentiate between plasma and formed elements: plasma is the liquid portion containing water, electrolytes, nutrients, and waste products, while formed elements are the solid components.
4. Identify that red blood cells (erythrocytes) are responsible for carrying oxygen, white blood cells (leukocytes) are involved in immune response, and platelets (thrombocytes) are crucial for blood clotting.
5. Clarify that terms like hemoglobin, myoglobin, and albumin are proteins found in blood but are not considered formed elements. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells, myoglobin is a muscle protein, and albumin is a plasma protein.