Plasma

The plasma is the fluid portion of the blood, in which the blood cells are suspended. It makes up approximately 55% of the volume of whole blood. There are several components that make up plasma, water, proteins, lipids (or fats), electrolytes, nutrients, waste products and dissolved gases.

The 3 main classes of proteins contained in the plasma include: albumins, globulins and fibrinogen. Albumins are important for transportation of substances through the blood; globulins function both as transport vehicles and as functional units of the immune system (a.k.a. antibodies); and fibrinogen functions in the blood clotting mechanism.

 Plasma Composition