Emma's Composition of Plasma table

90% of plasma volume; dissolving and suspending medium for solutes of blood; absorbs heat

Water

Most abundant solutes by number; cations include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium; anions include chloride, phosphate, sulfate, and bicarbonate; help to maintain plasma osmotic pressure and normal blood pH

Electrolytes

8% (by weight) of plasma; all contribute to osmotic pressure and maintain water balance in blood and tissues; all have other functions (transport. enzymatic, etc.) as well

Plasma proteins

60% of plasma proteins; produced by the liver; main contributor to osmotic pressure

Albumin

36% of plasma proteins

Globulins

Produced by liver; most are transport proteins that bind to lipids, metal ions, and fat soluble vitamins

alpha, beta

Antibodies released by plasma cells during immune response

Gamma

4% of plasma proteins; produced by liver; forms fibrin threads of blood clot

Fibrinogen

By products of cellular metabolism, such as urea, uric acid, creatinine, and ammonium salts

nonprotein nitrogenous substances

Materials absorbed from digestive tract and transported for use throughout the body; include glucose and other simple carbohydrates, amino acids (protein digestion products), fatty acids, glycerol and triglycerides (fat digestion products), cholesterol, and vitamins

Nutrients (organic)

Oxygen and carbon dioxide; oxygen mostly bound to hemoglobin inside RBCs; carbon dioxide transported dissolved as bicarbonate ion or CO2, or bound to hemoglobin in RBCs

Respiratory Gases

Steroid and thyroid hormones carried by plasma proteins

Hormones