Library · Physiology
Blood plasma
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Plasma is the liquid part of blood. It is the medium in which erythrocytes, or red blood cells, leukocytes, or white blood cells, and platelets stay suspended, and it accounts for more than half the volume of the blood. It is the broth of the soup: what is left once everything settles.
It is almost all water, and dissolved in that water are proteins such as albumin, globulins and fibrinogen, along with electrolytes, which are salts, plus nutrients, hormones, gases and waste, that is, the garbage that cells leave behind as they work.
It is important not to confuse plasma with serum. Serum is the fluid left after blood clots, and for that reason it lacks fibrinogen and nearly all the clotting factors.
In brief
Plasma is the liquid part of blood, where erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets stay suspended, and it makes up more than half of the blood's volume.
It is the broth of the soup: what is left once everything settles.
It is almost all water, with dissolved proteins such as albumin, globulins and fibrinogen, plus electrolytes, nutrients, hormones, gases and waste products.
It is not the same as serum: serum is what is left after blood clots, and it lacks fibrinogen and nearly all the clotting factors.
Sources (2)
- National Center for Biotechnology InformationPhysiology, Blood PlasmaPublished
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of MedicineBlood, MedlinePlusPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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