Blood Plasma

Question 1

What is blood plasma composed of ?

Answer 1

Inorganic substances
Nitrogenous waste
Organic nutrients
Gases
Plasma proteins

Question 2

What is the function of Ions (electrolytes) in blood plasma?

Answer 2

Mainly responsible for crystalloid osmotic
pressure
Involved in maintaining pH homeostasis through
buffer action
Maintaining excitability of cells

Question 3

What can lead to excess nitrogenous waste in the blood and give 4 examples of nitrogenous waste?

Answer 3

Increased plasma levels due to derangement of
kidney function.
Urea, Ammonia, Creatine, Uric acid.

Question 4

What organic nutrients are transported by blood plasma and where what function do they have ?

Answer 4

glucose, fats and amino acids travel from the gut and storage areas to where they are needed.

Question 5

What gases are present in the plasma ?

Answer 5

Nitrogen, Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

Question 6

List and Explain two methods of separating plasma proteins?

Answer 6

Ultracentrifugation: Speed of sedimentation depends on molecular mass (density)
Electrophoresis:
Based on the difference in migration rate in an electrical field
When the plasma proteins are placed in an electric field they will move towards the positive electrode (anode)

Question 7

What does the rate of migration in Electrophoresis depend on and which plasma protein is the most active?

Answer 7

Charge and Molecular mass, Albumin is the most active as it has the smallest molecular mass and a high blood plasma concentration.

Question 8

What are the functions of plasma proteins?

Answer 8

1. Responsible for colloid osmotic pressure of
   plasma.
2. Bind and transport substances: metals, lipids,
   hormones, drugs. Prevent rapid clearing of substances from body by kidney
3. Partly responsible for viscosity of the blood.
   Help to create and maintain arterial blood
   pressure.
4. Function as buffer in control of pH.
   Able to accept both hydrogen and base ions.
5. Protects the body.
   Antibodies: γ-globulins
6. Mediate blood clotting.
   Many of the clotting factors are globulins.
7. Act as protein reserve during starvation.

Question 9

What are the functions of Albumins, Globulins, Fibrinogen and Transferrin and where are they produced ?

Answer 9

Albumins:
Liver
Carries various substances, contributes to
colloid osmotic pressure.
Globulins:
Liver and lymphoid tissue
Clotting factor, enzymes, antibodies,
carries various substances
Fibrinogen:
Liver
Forms fibrin which is necessary for clotting
Transferrin:
Liver
Transport iron

Question 10

What causes plasma protein deficiencies and how do they arise ?

Answer 10

Insufficient protein production
Prolonged starvation, Malabsorption, Liver disease:
Loss of large amounts of protein, especially
albumin, in the urine:
Kidney disease

Question 11

What is the name and effects of plasma protein deficiency?

Answer 11

Hypoproteinaemia: Decrease in plasma oncotic pressure which leads to oedema

Question 12

What is Oedema ?

Answer 12

Swelling caused due to excess fluid accumulation in the body tissues as fluid is not reabsorbed into the bloodstream. This is due to a low colloidal osmotic pressure or a low concentration of plasma proteins.