Functions and Composition of Blood

Plasma

the liquid component of blood; contains dissolved proteins and other solutes such as nutrients, electrolytes, and wastes

Formed Elements

blood cells (red blood cells and white blood cells) and cell fragments (platelets) suspended in the plasma

Red blood cells

transport oxygen and carbon dioxide

White blood cells

components of the immune system; the granulocytes and agranulocytes of whole blood

Platelets

small, membrane-enclosed packets of cytoplasm containing enzymes and clotting factors, proteins that play a role in blood clotting

Whole Blood

a mixture of plasma and formed elements

Albumins

major contributor to osmotic concentration of plasma; transports some lipids

Globulins

transports ions, hormones, and lipids

Fibrinogen 

an essential component of the clotting system; can be converted to insoluble fibrin

hypovolemic

an abnormally low blood volume

hypervolemic

an abnormally high blood volume

What are the effects of hypervolemic blood condition?

fluid retention, which places severe stress on the heart because it must push the extra fluid around the circulatory system

What percentage of whole blood is plasma?

55

True or false: the concentration of dissolved oxygen in plasma is higher than that of interstitial fluid.

True

True or false: Interstitial fluid contains significant quantities of dissolved proteins, while plasma does not.

False