Composition of Blood

COMPOSITION OF BLOOD

Blood is a type of connective tissue that consists of a liquid matrix containing cells and cell fragments. The liquid matrix is theplasma (plaz′ mă), and the cells and cell fragments are the formed elements (figure 11.1). The plasma accounts for slightlymore than half of the total blood volume, and the formed elements account for slightly less than half. The total blood volume in the average adult is about 4–5 liters (L) in females and 5–6 L in males. Blood makes up about 8% of total body weight.