This week we discussed blood and the formed elements of blood. The formed elements of blood are as follows
1. Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells) - they are biconcave, which helps with the diffusion of other particles within the blood. They live for about 120 days and their main function is the transportion of oxygen throughout the body to tissue and the exportation/transportation of carbon dioxide to the lungs to be exhaled out. In addition, Red Blood Cells do not have a nucleus once they become Reticulocytes.
2. Leukocytes (White Blood Cells) - There are five different types. Three have granules that can be seen by a light microscope and two do not have granules that can be seen by a light microscope.
Granulocytes (Have Granules)
Neutorphil - are the most abundant and their nucleus are mutilobed, their main function
is to phagocytize bacteria
Eosinophil - have a bilobed nucleus and their main function is to kill parasitic worms
destroy antigen-antibody complexes and inactivate some chemicals of
allergy.
Basophil - Nucleus is lobed and the granules are so closely compacted that they cover
the entire nucleus of the White Blood Cell. Their functionis to release
histamine and other mediators of inflammation. They also contain heparin
and anticagulant
Agranulocytes (Have no Granules)
Lymphocyte - The nucleus is spherical or indented. There is a small halo affect around
the nucleus. Their function is to mount immune response by direct cell
attact or via antibodies.
Monocyte - They have a U shaped or Kidney shaped nucleus. Their function is
phagocyosis. Monocytes develop into macrophages in the bodies tissue.
3. Platelets - are cytoplasmic fragments from megakaryocytes, which are bone marrow cells that are responsible for the production of platelets. The function of platelets is to form a connective mesh work that will help to seal a small tear of cut. They help with blood clotting.

The easiest example is a common one. I would safely bet that everyone has had a cut in their life. This is something physical that we are able to see the forming of a clot when our skin is cut. This formed clot then becomes a scab. Blood clotting and being able to form a clot to prevent hemorrhaging is a life saving technique that the body is able to accomplish on its own.