Essay on the Importance of Plasma in Blood!
It is a complex liquid component of the blood, about 90% of which is formed by the water alone. Dissolved in the plasma are several organic and inorganic substances including proteins, glucose, cholesterol, urea, hormones, vitamins, and inorganic salts and fibrinogen, the protein that aids in clotting? It also contains anticoagulant, heparin.
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(i) Proteins:
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They include Difference between Blood Serum and Blood Plasma serum albumins, serum globulins and fibrinogen. Serum albumins (made in liver) are mainly responsible for maintaining the osmotic pressure of the blood and retain water.
Immunoglobulins, a class of serum globulins constitute the antibodies. Fibrinogen is concerned with blood clotting and is converted to fibrin.
Also essential for blood clotting, another blood protein ‘prothrombin’ is present. It is a type of serum globulin, which is converted to thrombin during the blood clotting.
(ii) Glucose:
Glucose absorbed from the intestines, constitutes a major source of body energy. Its value is 80-100 mg/100 ml of blood.
(iii) Cholesterol:
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Normal level ranges between 50-180 mg/100 ml of blood.
(iv) Urea:
Normal level 17-30 mg/100 ml.
(v) Inorganic materials:
Include the salts in the form of ions of Na+, Ca++, Mn++, Cl- hco3, dissolved gases, e.g., CO2 and O2.