Plasma is one of the blood components along with white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.
It is a yellowish liquid that constitutes approximately 55% of the blood , whereas red blood cells (red blood cells) correspond to 44% and leukocytes (white blood cells) and platelets make up 1% of its totality.
Plasma Functions
Plasma is a special tissue because it is liquid and thanks to this it can fulfill the main function of blood, which is to transport substances throughout the body.
The substances present in the blood are nutrients from food, waste products, medicines we use and cells, such as white blood cells responsible for the defense of the body.
In short, the plasma serves to:
- Transport of substances: nutrients, waste, hormones, drugs and cells;
- Control of intravascular osmotic pressure;
- Protection of the organism through leukocytes;
- Reserve of proteins in the body.
Proteins in Plasma
The proteins present in the plasma correspond to approximately 7% of its composition and are very important for the transport of substances, blood clotting and defense of the organism.
- Albumin: present mostly in blood plasma, this protein assists in osmotic control and in the transport of fatty acids and hormones.
- Fibrinogen: protein responsible for blood clotting.
- Globulin: protein responsible for the defense of the organism, since it participates in the composition of antibodies , in addition to the transport of substances.
Plasma Components
Plasma is composed of:
- Water (approximately 90%);
- Enzymes and Hormones;
- Gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide);
- Glucose, Proteins and Amino Acids;
- Mineral Salts and Vitamins.
Blood transfusion
When blood is donated, the liquid is divided into three components: Red blood cells (red blood cells) to treat anemia; the platelets to treat or prevent bleeding; and Plasma used to treat hemorrhages.
The history of blood transfusion begins in 1665, at the University of Oxford, England, as the scholar Richard Lower performs the test on animals.
Two years later, in Paris, Professor Jean Baptiste Denis performs the procedure on a human being, however, using the blood of an animal. In this way, the scholar defended the idea that the animal’s blood would be cleaner since it had no addictions.
However, it was in the 19th century that James Blundell performed the first blood transfusion between humans in a woman who had postpartum hemorrhage. Thus, after many experiments, it was concluded that the procedure would be beneficial since it could save lives.