Blood Plasma
After removal of all formed elements (above), a straw-coloured liquid is left called blood plasma. It is composed of ~ 90%water, ~8.5% solutes (most of which are proteins called Plasma Proteins : Albumin, Globulin, Fibrinogen) and ~1.5% other solutes (electrolytes, nutrients, gases, clotting factors, enzymes/hormones, and waste products). Plasma proteins play a role in maintaining proper blood osmotic pressure, an important factor in the exchange of fluids across capillary walls. Most plasma proteins are synthesized by hepatocytes (liver cells) and include:
Albumins (54%): transport proteins for several steroid hormones and for fatty acids.
Globulins (38%): Antibodies or Immunoglobulins for immune responses, transport of iron, lipids, and fat-soluble vitamins (ADEK).
Fibrinogen (7%): blood clotting.
Formed Elements
Formed elements are composed of 3 components :
1) Erythrocytes - Red Blood Cells (RBC)
2) Leukocytes - White Blood Cells (WBC)
3) Thrombocytes - Platelets
Note: RBCs and WBCs are whole cells while platelets are cell fragments.
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