Blood is composed of plasma and formed elements including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Plasma is mostly water but also contains proteins, nutrients, gases, electrolytes, and waste products. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin and transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues back to the lungs. White blood cells are responsible for the body's defenses against infection and are produced in the bone marrow and lymphoid tissues. The learning objectives cover the composition, function, and production of blood and blood cells.