Blood Plasma.
Introduction:
Blood is a fluid connective tissue made of two components Plasma and Blood Cells.
Blood performs many important functions in the body like, transportation, regulation and protection.
Blood is thick in appearance and has a temperature slightly higher than body temp. and pH is 7.4.
Plasma:
It is a straw colored liquid made up of 92% water and 8% dissolved or suspended substances.
The dissolved or suspended substances include;
Plasma Proteins.
Dissolved minerals.
Gases.
Nutrients.
Hormones.
Plasma Proteins:
They constitute around 7% of the plasma.
They are responsible for “Osmotic Pressure” of the blood which keeps the components in plasma in circulation.
All plasma proteins except immunoglobulins are formed in the liver.
Albumins:
They constitute around 60% of total plasma proteins.
Their main function is to create and maintain osmotic pressure.
They also provide binding sites for drugs, hormones and steroids.
Globulins:
Also known as “Antibodies (Immunoglobulins)”.
They are synthesized by Lymphocytes.
They have an important role in immunity that is in protection.
They also provide binding sites to certain hormones and minerals.
Clotting Factors:
The chemicals involved in coagulation of blood are known as clotting factors.
Most common clotting factor is fibrinogen.
The plasma from which clotting factors are removed is called “Serum”.
Electrolytes:
The pH of blood is maintained between 7.35 and 7.45 (slightly alkaline) by an ongoing complicated series of chemical activities, involving buffering systems.
The electrolytes dissolved in plasma have a variety of functions.
Nutrients:
The nutrients absorbed from digestive tracts are present in plasma from where they are transported to various cells.
Nutrients mainly include glucose, amino acids, fatty acids and vitamins.
Waste products:
Urea, creatinine and uric acid are the waste products of protein metabolism.
They are formed in the liver and carried in the blood to the various sites for excretion.
Hormones:
The products of Endocrine glands are poured directly in the blood.
Blood transports hormones to their respective target organs.
Gases:
Oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen are transported around the body dissolved in plasma.
Oxygen is bound to Hemoglobin while most of the Carbon dioxide is available as dissolved bicarbonate ions.
Nitrogen is available in dissolved form but has no physiological role.
Commonly Asked Questions.
Write a note on blood plasma.
Write a note on plasma proteins.