Blood Plasma

Plasma, Blood

the fluid portion of the blood. Plasma contains the formed elements of the blood—erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes. It is a colloidal solution of inorganic compounds and such organic compounds as proteins; it also contains more than 20 vitamins and 20 trace elements, including iron, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and cobalt. Plasma analysis is of great use in diagnosing various diseases. For example, the diagnostician looks for abnormal proteins, such as the C-reactive protein in rheumatism. Various diseases can be detected by an increase in the content of normal blood constituents; for example, hyperglycemia, which is the abnormally high content of sugar in the plasma, is symptomatic of diabetes mellitus. Increase in the titers of certain antibodies can also serve as a diagnostic clue in certain diseases. The medicinal substances albumin, dried blood plasma, fibrinogen, and gamma globulin are prepared from blood plasma.

Figure 1. Schematic representation of plasma types: (a) a gaseous plasma, (b) an electron plasma in a metal, (c) an electron-hole plasma in a semiconductor. The shaded circles are neutral atoms, the small solid circles represent mobile electrons, the large white circles with plus signs represent ions, and the small white circles represent conduction holes.

REFERENCE

Tumanov, A.K. Syvorotochnye sistemy krovi. Moscow, 1968.

blood plasma

plasma

[plaz´mah] 1. the fluid portion of the lymph.2. the fluid portion of the blood, in which the formed elements (blood cells) are suspended. Plasma is to be distinguished from serum, which is plasma from which the fibrinogen has been separated in the process of clotting. Called also blood plasma. adj., adj plasmat´ic, plas´mic.
Of the total volume of blood, 55 per cent is made up of plasma. It is a clear, straw-colored liquid, 92 per cent water, in which are contained plasma proteins, inorganic salts, nutrients, gases, waste materials from the cells, and various hormones, secretions, and enzymes. These substances are transported to or from the tissues of the body by the plasma.
Plasma obtained from blood donors is given to persons suffering from loss of blood or from shock to help maintain adequate blood pressure. Since plasma can be dried and stored in bottles, it can be transported almost anywhere, ready for immediate use after addition of the appropriate fluid. Plasma can be given to anyone, regardless of blood type. (See also transfusion.)
Plasma volume is sometimes measured in order to calculate the total blood volume. The most common method for determining plasma volume is by injection of a dye (T-1824, called Evans blue) into the circulating blood and, after the dye has been dispersed throughout the body, using the dilution of the dye to calculate the total blood volume.antihemophilic human plasma normal human plasma that has been processed promptly to preserve the antihemophilic properties of the original blood; used for temporary correction of bleeding tendency in hemophilia.blood plasma plasma (def. 2).citrated plasma blood plasma treated with sodium citrate, which prevents clotting.plasma exchange the removal of plasma from withdrawn blood (plasmapheresis) and retransfusion of the formed elements and type-specific plasma" >fresh frozen plasma into the donor; done for removal of circulating antibodies or abnormal plasma components.fresh frozen plasma plasma separated from whole blood and frozen within 8 hours; it contains all the coagulation factors.plasma thromboplastin antecedent deficiency hemophilia C.

plas·ma

(plaz'mă), 1. The proteinaceous fluid (noncellular) portion of the circulating blood, as distinguished from the serum obtained after coagulation. Synonym(s): blood plasma2. The fluid portion of the lymph. 3. The fluid in which the fat droplets of milk are suspended. 4. A "fourth state of matter" in which, owing to elevated temperature, atoms have broken down to form free electrons and more-or-less stripped nuclei; produced in the laboratory in connection with hydrogen fusion (thermonuclear) research. 5. Highly ionized gas. Synonym(s): plasm [G. something formed]

blood plasma

n. The pale yellow or gray-yellow, protein-containing fluid portion of the blood in which the blood cells and platelets are normally suspended.

plas·ma

(plaz'mă) 1. The fluid (noncellular) portion of the circulating blood, as distinguished from the serum obtained after coagulation.
Synonym(s): blood plasma. 2. The fluid portion of the lymph. 3. A "fourth state of matter" in which, owing to elevated temperature (about 10⁶ degrees), atoms have broken down to form free electrons and more or less stripped nuclei; produced in the laboratory in connection with hydrogen fusion (thermonuclear) research.
Synonym(s): plasm. [G. something formed]

blood plasma

the watery matrix of BLOOD in which the blood cells are suspended. Plasma consists of about 90% water, acting as a solvent, and the following solutes;

plasma proteins. The largest component (about 7% by weight), which is divided into three groups; albumin (55%), globulin (44.8%) and fibrinogen (0.2%). Plasma proteins are important in the maintenance of correct blood OSMOTIC POTENTIAL, the regulation of blood pH and (fibrinogen only) in BLOOD CLOTTING.
NITROGENOUS WASTE substances that are carried from their site of production to the kidneys. These excretions consist mostly of UREA, but also have small amounts of ammonia and URIC ACID.
inorganic salts of sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium, the most common being sodium chloride. These salts form about 0.9% by weight and are responsible for maintenance of correct osmotic pressure and pH in the blood as well as maintenance of the proper physiological balance between the tissues and blood.
organic nutrients. Among the most important are: (i) blood sugar, mainly glucose, derived from the breakdown of foods, either directly from the gut or from GLYCOGEN stored in the liver (glycogenolysis). The precise level of blood sugar is critical for the maintenance of homeostatis and is controlled by a negative FEEDBACK MECHANISM in which insulin plays a major part (see DIABETES). (ii) blood LIPIDS such as fats and cholesterol, derived from dietary intake or activity of the liver.
hormones manufactures in the ENDOCRINE GLANDS.
dissolved gases such as nitrogen (physiologically inert), small quantities of oxygen (mostly carried by haemoglobin in the ERYTHROCYTES) and carbon dioxide carried as bicarbonate (HCO-₃) in the plasma (see CHLORIDE SHIFT).

blood plasma

blood plasma

blood plasma

blood′ plas`ma

blood plasma

Blood Plasma

Plasma, Blood

REFERENCE

blood plasma

plasma

plas·ma

blood plasma

plas·ma

blood plasma

blood plasma

Synonyms for blood plasma

noun the colorless watery fluid of the blood and lymph that contains no cells, but in which the blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes) are suspended

Synonyms

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