composition of blood - plasma Flashcards
define plasma
plasma is the liquid part of blood
Describe the appearance of plasma
it is a pale, golden liquid
What % does plasma make up of blood?
about 55% of blood and the remaining 45% is blood cells and platelets
List the things plasma consists of and include %
90% water
7% proteins
3% dissolved materials that are being transported
Name the main plasma proteins
antibodies and clotting proteins
What are antibodies?
They are produced by white blood cells in order to combine with and neutralise foreign substances
What are clotting proteins?
They are acted upon to form blood clots
What do the main plasma proteins ensure?
They ensure that blood plasma has the same concentration as the blood cells
How do the main plasma proteins ensure that blood plasma has the same concentration as the blood cells?
As these proteins are too large to pass easily through the walls of blood vessels they help ensure that blood plasma has the same concentration as the blood cells
What is the role of plasma?
The role of plasma is to transport dissolved materials such as glucose, amino acids, minerals and vitamins, salts, carbon dioxide, urea and hormones.
Plasma also carries heat.
Define serum
Serum is plasma from which the clotting proteins have been removed
What does serum contain and not contain?
Serum has no clotting protein but it does contain the other plasma-soluble materials (including antibodies)
