Plasma
→pale yellowish liquid in blood - 90% water → contains:
- mainly water
- glucose
- dissolved mineral salts (sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, potassium chloride, existing as ions)
- soluble proteins (serum albumin, serum globulin, fibrinogen, prothrombin)
- Calcium
- antibodies
- amino acids
- fats
- vitamins
- hormones
- excretory products like urea, uric acid, creatinine → also contains red and white blood cells. → PH of 7.3
Function*: Transports:
- blood cells around the body
- nutrients from small intestines to other parts of the body
- excretory products from organs, where they are produced to excretory organs for removal
- hormones from endocrine glands to target organs.