Final answer:
Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, contain hemoglobin and are responsible for the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Formed Elements That Contain Hemoglobin and Transport Respiratory Gases
The formed elements of the blood involved in transporting respiratory gases are the erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells (RBCs). Erythrocytes are packed with a vital oxygen-carrying compound known as hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is composed of four globin proteins and a heme group that includes an iron ion essential for binding oxygen. The primary role of erythrocytes is to collect oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to the tissues throughout the body. They also carry a portion of carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, from the tissues back to the lungs for exhalation.
It's important to note that other formed elements such as agranular leukocytes, granular leukocytes, and platelets play roles in the body's immune response and hemostasis, but do not transport respiratory gases.
Therefore, the answer to the question is erythrocytes.