Composition and function of blood plasma

Functions of blood plasma: The blood plasma’s main function is to help remove waste from the cellular functions that help in energy production. It helps in transporting minerals and nutrients throughout the body. As blood plasma is the fluid that flows through the blood vessels of the entire body, it carries the waste to the body’s excretory organs, such as the kidney or liver.

Blood plasma also regulates the body temperature by absorbing and liberating heat as per the body’s requirement. As the blood plasma has various components, different body functions are carried out, such as:

Protein: As plasma comprises two types of protein, albumin, and fibrinogen, which consist of important functions. Albumin helps to maintain the fluid by balancing the oncotic pressure in the blood. These pressures do not allow fluid leakage in the body areas and skin where less fluid is required. In contrast, fibrinogen plays the main role in reducing bleeding, an essential part of the blood-clotting process.

Immunoglobulins: The plasma comprises the gamma globulins that is one type of immunoglobulin that helps the body to fight against infection.

Electrolytes: Electrolytes such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium performs a crucial job in maintaining body functions. Lack of electrolytes in the body can cause muscle weakness, seizures, and irregular heart rhythms.

Clotting factor: Blood plasma contains various clotting factors such as fibrinogen, prothrombin, and thromboplastin. This helps in the coagulation of the blood during injury and prevents blood loss.

Donation of blood plasma
Blood plasma is an essential part of the body as it has important functions. For people who lose a lot of blood due to any traumatic accidents or surgery, along with blood, there is also a loss of a lot of plasma. Additional blood plasma is collected along with the whole blood.

There are two procedures performed for collecting the blood plasma. They are:

The first procedure is by donating the whole blood. Later, in a laboratory, blood components are separated, including plasma, as per the need.

The other procedure involves donating only plasma. The method that is used is called plasmapheresis.

The plasmapheresis machine drains out the blood from the veins, which is separated by the process of centrifugation. Centrifuge machine separates plasma from the other blood components.

The plasma is lighter compared to other components. Hence, it stays on the top during the process. The plasmapheresis machine will keep the plasma and sends all the other blood components back into the body.

The plasma that is donated is stored in the frozen chamber and is usually stored for a year.

Composition and function of blood plasma

Composition: The blood plasma’s main component is water. It contains about 91-92\%91−92% of the water, which helps to move blood and other essential nutrients through the heart by filling up the blood vessels.

The remaining 7-8\%7−8% component of blood plasma consists of several materials such as proteins, immunoglobulins, electrolytes, clotting factors, and fibrinogen.

Functions of blood plasma: The blood plasma’s main function is to help remove waste from the cellular functions that help in energy production. It helps in transporting minerals and nutrients throughout the body. As blood plasma is the fluid that flows through the blood vessels of the entire body, it carries the waste to the body’s excretory organs, such as the kidney or liver.

Blood plasma also regulates the body temperature by absorbing and liberating heat as per the body’s requirement. As the blood plasma has various components, different body functions are carried out, such as:

Protein: As plasma comprises two types of protein, albumin, and fibrinogen, which consist of important functions. Albumin helps to maintain the fluid by balancing the oncotic pressure in the blood. These pressures do not allow fluid leakage in the body areas and skin where less fluid is required. In contrast, fibrinogen plays the main role in reducing bleeding, an essential part of the blood-clotting process.

Immunoglobulins: The plasma comprises the gamma globulins that is one type of immunoglobulin that helps the body to fight against infection.

Electrolytes: Electrolytes such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium performs a crucial job in maintaining body functions. Lack of electrolytes in the body can cause muscle weakness, seizures, and irregular heart rhythms.

Clotting factor: Blood plasma contains various clotting factors such as fibrinogen, prothrombin, and thromboplastin. This helps in the coagulation of the blood during injury and prevents blood loss.

Donation of blood plasma
Blood plasma is an essential part of the body as it has important functions. For people who lose a lot of blood due to any traumatic accidents or surgery, along with blood, there is also a loss of a lot of plasma. Additional blood plasma is collected along with the whole blood.

There are two procedures performed for collecting the blood plasma. They are:

The first procedure is by donating the whole blood. Later, in a laboratory, blood components are separated, including plasma, as per the need.

The other procedure involves donating only plasma. The method that is used is called plasmapheresis.

The plasmapheresis machine drains out the blood from the veins, which is separated by the process of centrifugation. Centrifuge machine separates plasma from the other blood components.

The plasma is lighter compared to other components. Hence, it stays on the top during the process. The plasmapheresis machine will keep the plasma and sends all the other blood components back into the body.

The plasma that is donated is stored in the frozen chamber and is usually stored for a year.

Blood condition affecting blood plasma
The blood disorder that affects the blood plasma are as follows:

Hemophilia: A genetic defect in the proteins of plasms that disrupts the blood clotting procedure.

Von Willebrand disease: The Von Willebrand factor is a protein that aids in blood clotting procedures. It is also a genetically inherited condition that either produces less amount of protein or produces a protein that does not work efficiently.

Deep venous thrombosis: This is a condition that clots blood in the deep vein in the leg that can travel from the heart to the lungs, leading to pulmonary embolism.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): This condition originates tiny blood clots throughout the body instantaneously; severe cases of infection, surgery, or pregnancy complications can cause this condition.

Hypercoagulable state: This disorder leads to clotting of blood easily, resulting in frequent blood clotting episodes throughout life, which requires them to take daily blood-thinning medication.