<P> Medical terms related to blood often begin with hemo - or hemato - (also spelled haemo - and haemato -) from the Greek word αἷμα (haima) for "blood". In terms of anatomy and histology, blood is considered a specialized form of connective tissue, given its origin in the bones and the presence of potential molecular fibers in the form of fibrinogen . </P> <P> Blood performs many important functions within the body, including: </P> <Ul> <Li> Supply of oxygen to tissues (bound to hemoglobin, which is carried in red cells) </Li> <Li> Supply of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids (dissolved in the blood or bound to plasma proteins (e.g., blood lipids)) </Li> <Li> Removal of waste such as carbon dioxide, urea, and lactic acid </Li> <Li> Immunological functions, including circulation of white blood cells, and detection of foreign material by antibodies </Li> <Li> Coagulation, the response to a broken blood vessel, the conversion of blood from a liquid to a semisolid gel to stop bleeding </Li> <Li> Messenger functions, including the transport of hormones and the signaling of tissue damage </Li> <Li> Regulation of core body temperature </Li> <Li> Hydraulic functions </Li> </Ul> <Li> Supply of oxygen to tissues (bound to hemoglobin, which is carried in red cells) </Li>

What are the formed elements of the blood and what are their functions