Like all connective tissues, blood is made up of cellular elements and an extracellular matrix. The cellular elements—referred to as the formed elements—include red blood cells, white blood cells, and...Like all connective tissues, blood is made up of cellular elements and an extracellular matrix. The cellular elements—referred to as the formed elements—include red blood cells, white blood cells, and cell fragments called platelets. The extracellular matrix, called plasma, makes blood unique among connective tissues because it is fluid. This fluid, which is mostly water, perpetually suspends the formed elements and enables them to circulate throughout the body within the cardiovascular system.
