Chapter 8, Problem 1RQ

Summary Introduction

To explain: Blood plasma and its function.

Introduction: Hematologic system comprises of blood, blood vessels, and blood-forming organs. Blood is a fluid connective tissue that carries oxygen, glucose, and nutrients throughout the body. It mainly consists of four types of components, namely red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), plasma, and platelets.

Explanation of Solution

Blood is a connective tissue, which flows from the heart through arteries and veins to all the body parts. Whole blood consists of two elements, namely formed elements and plasma. About 55% of the whole blood is plasma, which is mostly water. The blood plasma is the fluid or liquid portion of the blood.

Blood plasma mainly functions in transportation of the components present within it as follows:

• • It transports the blood cells that play a critical role in maintaining the normal blood pressure of the body.
• • It helps to deliver nutrients to various cells of the body and in the same way it carries waste products from various organs for excretion.
• • It acts as a transporting medium for the transportation of platelets and over a hundred other substances such as proteins, hormones, amino acids, lipoproteins, simple sugars, and dissolved gases throughout the body.
• • It participates in immunity and clot formation.