What does pus contain?

The presence of pus indicates an inflammatory response in the body, often due to an infection. Pus is a thick fluid that is produced at the site of infection and contains a combination of various components. Specifically, it consists of white blood cells, which are crucial for combating infection, dead cells that have resulted from the battle between the immune system and pathogens, tissue elements that can also be damaged in the affected area, and bacteria, which are typically the invaders causing the infection. This combination illustrates the body's response to fight off infection and heal, making it a crucial aspect of understanding what pus represents in a clinical setting.

The other options do not capture the complexity of what pus is. While dead cells may be present, pus is not limited to just those. Blood and plasma might be involved in inflammation, but they are not the primary constituents of pus itself. Healthy cells and nutrients would not typically be components of pus since pus signifies a pathological condition, rather than a state of healing or health.