Blood plasma

Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, in which the blood cells are suspended. Serum is the same as blood plasma except that clotting factors (such as fibrin) have been removed.

Related Topics:
Blood - Blood cell - Clotting factor - Fibrin

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Plasma resembles whey in appearance (transparent with a faint straw colour). It is mainly composed of water, blood proteins, and inorganic electrolytes. It serves as transport medium for glucose, lipids, hormones, metabolic end products, carbon dioxide and oxygen. (Oxygen transport capacity of plasma is much lower than that of the hemoglobin in the red blood cells; it may increase under hyperbaric conditions.) Plasma is the storage and transport medium of clotting factors and its protein content is necessary to maintain the oncotic pressure of the blood.

Related Topics:
Whey - Water - Blood protein - Inorganic electrolyte - Glucose - Lipid - Hormone - Metabolic end products - Carbon dioxide - Oxygen - Hemoglobin - Red blood cell - Hyperbaric - Oncotic pressure

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