-Straw colored liquid which is ~91% water

-Transports all other blood components, nutrients, wastes, etc...

-Contains: hormones, nutrients, wastes, proteins: enzymes, antibodies, clotting factors

-aka Erythrocytes

-Carries oxygen and contains hemoglobin, life-span = 3-4 months

-45% in males

-42% in females

-aka Thrombocytes

-Important part of clotting process, made of cell fragments, life-span = 4-7 days

-aka Leukocytes

-Provides body's nautral defense against disease

-Consist of 5 cell types...

Monocytes

(macrophages)

phagocytosis of large particles

release anticoagulant (heparin) and release histamine (cause inflammation)

-ex. histamine

-When cells are damaged, chemicals are released from them. These chemicals attract defensive cells to the area.