Eleanor Finch
Blood plasma is a light amber-coloured liquid and the largest part of human blood, making up about 55% of its total content. It is mostly water, constituting 91% to 92% of plasma, and contains important dissolved proteins, glucose, clotting factors, electrolytes, hormones, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. Plasma carries water, salts, and enzymes, and its main role is to take nutrients, hormones, and proteins to the parts of the body that need them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of water | 91% to 92% or up to 95% by volume |
| Percentage of solids | 8% to 9% |
| Coagulants | Fibrinogen |
| Plasma proteins | Albumin, globulin, gamma globulin, anti-hemophilic factor |
| Electrolytes | Sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, calcium |
| Immunoglobulins | Help fight infection |
| Other constituents | Enzymes, hormones, vitamins, glucose, clotting factors, carbon dioxide, oxygen |
| Density | 1,025 kg/m3 (1.025 g/ml) |
| Colour | Light yellow or straw-coloured |
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What You'll Learn
Water makes up 91-95% of blood plasma
Blood plasma is the largest part of the blood, making up about 55% of its overall content. It is a light yellow or amber-coloured liquid that carries water, salts, enzymes, and other important components. These include antibodies, clotting factors, and proteins such as albumin, fibrinogen, and gamma globulin.
Plasma plays a critical role in the treatment of many serious health problems. It helps maintain satisfactory blood pressure and volume, and supplies critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity. It also carries electrolytes such as sodium and potassium to the muscles and helps maintain a proper pH balance in the body, which is critical to cell function.
Plasma is formed from water and salts absorbed through the digestive tract. It is composed of mostly water, with estimates ranging from 91% to 92% to as high as 95% by volume. The remaining volume consists of solids, including coagulants, plasma proteins, electrolytes, immunoglobulins, and small amounts of enzymes, hormones, and vitamins.
The water content in the human body is divided into two major compartments: intracellular fluid (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF). The ICF forms about 40% of total body weight, while the ECF forms about 20%, of which 15% is interstitial fluid and 5% is plasma. This means that plasma water constitutes a significant proportion of the body's total water content.
Plasma can be separated from whole blood through blood fractionation or centrifugation, and it is often donated or used in transfusions to help treat various health conditions.
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Plasma proteins make up 6-8%
Plasma is the largest part of blood, making up about 55% of its overall content. It is the liquid portion of blood, in which red and white blood cells and platelets are suspended as they move through the body.
Plasma is composed of 91% to 92% water and 8% to 9% solids. Plasma proteins make up 6-8% of plasma. These proteins include albumin, gamma globulin, and anti-hemophilic factor. Albumin is the most abundant protein in plasma and is responsible for maintaining osmotic pressure. It helps regulate the colloidal osmotic neutrality of blood, maintaining the consistency of blood and preventing it from becoming too watery.
Plasma proteins play a crucial role in several bodily functions. They contribute to the acid-base balance in the body through their buffering action. Additionally, they are essential for blood clotting, providing the necessary clotting factors. Plasma proteins also support immunity and help fight infections. Immunoglobulins, for example, play a vital role in defending the body against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
The analysis of plasma proteins is a challenging task due to the wide range of protein concentrations. While albumin comprises the largest component, there are also low-abundance proteins present in plasma. These low-abundance proteins are important for proteomic analysis, especially when studying specific protein functions or identifying biomarkers.
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Electrolytes, sugars, fats, hormones and vitamins make up 1%
Blood plasma is a light amber or straw-coloured liquid that makes up about 55% of the body's total blood volume. It is the liquid base of blood, and its main role is to transport blood cells, nutrients, hormones, proteins, and waste products throughout the body.
Plasma is composed of about 92% water and 8% solids. The solids include vital proteins such as albumin, gamma globulin, and anti-hemophilic factor, as well as coagulants, immunoglobulins, and electrolytes. Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, chloride, and calcium are essential for maintaining blood pH and play a critical role in cell function.
Plasma also contains sugars, fats, hormones, and vitamins, which make up about 1% of its composition. These substances are transported by the plasma to different parts of the body, acting as fuel for growth and development. Plasma is the main medium for transporting excretory products, and it also helps maintain the body's acid-base balance.
The role of plasma in maintaining health is critical, and it is often used in the treatment of serious health problems, especially those involving blood loss. Plasma donation is, therefore, a crucial aspect of healthcare, and blood drives are commonly held to encourage people to donate their plasma.
The process of donating plasma involves drawing blood through a needle inserted into a vein in the donor's arm. A machine then separates the plasma and sometimes the platelets from the blood sample, and the remaining blood components are returned to the donor's body, along with a saline solution.
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Immunoglobulins help fight infection
Blood plasma, constituting about 55% of blood, is a critical component of blood. It is the liquid base of blood and is light yellow in colour. Plasma is composed of 91% to 92% water, 7% vital proteins, and 1% mineral salts, sugars, fats, hormones, and vitamins.
Immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, are a type of glycoprotein produced by plasma cells. They play a crucial role in fighting infections and protecting the body against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. When there is a deficiency of immunoglobulins, individuals become more susceptible to recurrent infectious diseases.
Immunoglobulins recognise antigens in tissue fluids and serum. Antigens are foreign substances that trigger an immune response in the body, such as bacterial proteins. Once recognised, immunoglobulins bind to these antigens, neutralising or eliminating them from the body. This process helps prevent the spread of infection and supports the body's defence mechanisms.
There are different types of immunoglobulins, including IgG, IgA, and IgM. IgG is the most abundant antibody in newborns as it is the only immunoglobulin that can cross the placenta. It provides protection to newborns against infectious diseases. IgA, on the other hand, is found in two molecular structures: monomeric (serum) and dimeric (secretory). IgM antibodies are produced in response to bacterial antigens in the digestive system.
Immunoglobulin levels can be measured through a blood test. Abnormal levels of immunoglobulins can indicate a serious health problem, such as an autoimmune disorder or cancer affecting the blood, bone marrow, or immune system. However, it is important to note that certain medications can also affect immunoglobulin levels. Therefore, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare provider to interpret the results accurately.
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Coagulants aid blood clotting
Blood plasma is the liquid portion of blood, constituting about 55% of its overall content. It is light yellow or straw-coloured and is made up of about 91% to 92% water and 8% to 9% solids.
Plasma plays a critical role in blood clotting. Coagulants, mainly fibrinogen, aid in blood clotting. Fibrinogen is a plasma protein that, along with other procoagulants like thrombin and factor X, plays a major role in blood clotting. Fibrinogen is activated by thrombin, which leads to cross-linked fibrin formation. Fibrin acts like a super-tightly woven fabric or mesh to stop bleeding and form a blood clot.
The process of coagulation involves the activation, adhesion, and aggregation of platelets, as well as the deposition and maturation of fibrin. Platelets are tiny cells in the blood that, upon injury, stick together around the wound and form a "platelet plug" to stop bleeding. This process is called primary hemostasis. Secondary hemostasis occurs simultaneously, with additional coagulation factors beyond factor VII responding in a cascade to form fibrin strands, strengthening the platelet plug.
There are various products and treatments that promote coagulation and aid in blood clotting. For instance, Gelfoam, Surgifoam, and Gelfilm are gelatin-based products that promote coagulation by contact activation and platelet aggregation. When applied to a wound, these products leave behind a highly concentrated area of coagulants, providing a framework for further clot formation and tissue healing. Similarly, WoundClot is a commercially available product that absorbs water and concentrates coagulation factors to promote clot formation.
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Frequently asked questions
Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, making up about 55% of its overall content. It is mostly made up of water (90-95%) and contains important dissolved proteins, glucose, clotting factors, electrolytes, hormones, carbon dioxide, and oxygen.
The main function of blood plasma is to transport blood cells, nutrients, hormones, proteins, and waste products throughout the body. It also helps maintain a satisfactory blood pressure and volume, and supplies critical proteins for blood clotting and immunity.
Blood plasma can be obtained through blood donation. During the donation process, a machine separates the plasma from the blood sample, and the remaining red blood cells and other components are returned to the donor's body. Plasma can also be separated from whole blood through a process called blood fractionation, which involves adding an anticoagulant to a tube of blood and spinning it in a centrifuge.
