When you think of blood, a red liquid comes to mind, right? But did you know that more than half of your blood is a yellowish liquid? That's what we call plasma. It's like the river of life in our bodies. Everything our bodies need travels along this river. So today, let's talk about this amazing liquid, plasma, in simple terms.
What exactly is Plasma?
Simply put, plasma is the liquid part of your blood. To be precise, it makes up 55%, or a little over half, of your total blood volume. All of the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets you've heard of float around in this plasma, carrying them throughout your body.
Think of it like a fruit salad. The pieces of fruit are the red and white blood cells and platelets. The jelly that's all mixed together is like plasma.
This plasma is 92% water. The remaining 7% is proteins (such as antibodies, coagulation factors, albumin, fibrinogen). The other 1% is essential substances for our body, such as hormones, vitamins, salts, and enzymes.
Why is plasma so important for our body?
Plasma is not just a little bit of water. It does a lot of work in our body. Think of plasma as a river. The other blood cells are like boats that travel on that river. If the water level in the river decreases, the boats can't travel, right? That's how it is. Without plasma, our blood can't travel.
Check out the table below to see what important functions plasma performs for our bodies.
| The function of plasma | Simply put... |
|---|---|
| Nutrition and oxygen delivery | Red blood cells help carry oxygen to the lungs. They are also like a 'delivery service' that carries the nutrients, hormones, and vitamins the body needs everywhere. |
| Blood pressure control | It helps maintain the pressure necessary for good blood circulation, without causing blood vessels to constrict. |
| Helping immunity | Plasma carries white blood cells and antibodies that fight germs throughout the body. |
| Blood clotting and healing | When you cut your arm, plasma carries proteins that help stop the bleeding and helps the wound heal. |
| Waste removal | They collect waste products produced in the body and transport them to the kidneys and liver, where they are excreted from the body. |
| Body temperature control | It helps to keep the body temperature at the same level, preventing it from rising or falling too much. |
How is plasma formed and what color is it?
Plasma is not something that is produced in one place. It is formed by the combination of electrolytes, which are salts that we absorb through our digestive system from the water we drink and the food we eat. But the most important proteins that are added to it come from specific places in our body.
- Bone marrow
- Old and dying blood cells
- Liver
- Spleen
When these proteins combine with that liquid, complete plasma is formed.
Normally, when the red blood cells are removed from the blood, the plasma is a light yellow color, like straw. However, if you have a medical condition, this color can change. For example, if you have a condition where red blood cells are broken down (hemolysis), the plasma may be pink. If you have liver disease, which causes jaundice, the plasma may be green or brown.
The main types of proteins in plasma
We said that plasma contains many important proteins. These are some of the main types.
| Protein | What to do |
|---|---|
| Albumin | The key is to keep the amount of water in the cells and in the plasma in balance. This prevents the plasma from leaking out of the blood vessels. |
| Fibrinogen | This is the main protein that helps stop bleeding by forming blood clots when there is an injury. It also helps the wound heal. |
| Globulins | These are what make up antibodies. These are the proteins that help fight germs and protect us from disease. |
Diseases and symptoms that may be associated with plasma
If there is an imbalance or defect in plasma, various diseases can occur.
Some medical conditions:
- Diseases caused by problems with the functioning of proteins, for example `(Amyloidosis)`.
- Diseases that cause blood clotting problems, for example `(Hemophilia)` and `(von Willebrand disease)`.
- Diseases that reduce immunity (lack of immune proteins in the blood).
- Myeloma is a cancer that affects the bone marrow.
These may be symptoms of:
If you keep having these things, it's a good idea to see a doctor.
- Even a small injury can cause a large bruise or even just a little bleeding.
- Bone pain.
- Feeling that the heart is beating abnormally (palpitations, chest pain).
- Getting sick frequently, which means developing infections quickly due to a weakened immune system.
Not everyone with these symptoms has a plasma-related illness, but it is important to be aware of these and seek medical advice.
Donating plasma can save lives
Just like donating blood, you can also donate just plasma. This can save the lives of many patients.
1. Regular blood donation: When you donate blood, the plasma can be separated from it later in the laboratory.
2. Plasma-only donation: This involves using a special machine to take your blood, separate out only the plasma, and inject the remaining red and white cells back into your body. This method is also called ``Plasmapheresis''.
Donated plasma is used to treat burns, severe accidents, cancer patients, immunocompromised patients, and many other patients. Plasma from people with type AB blood is especially valuable because it does not contain antibodies and can be given to people of any blood type. But no matter what your blood type is, you can still help by donating plasma.
Take-Home Message
- Plasma is the yellow liquid part of your blood. It's like the 'river of life' that carries nutrients, hormones, and cells throughout our bodies.
- Even though it is over 90% water, it is full of proteins, vitamins, and minerals that are essential for the body.
- If you turn blue from even the smallest things, or if you're constantly sick, pay attention to it and talk to your doctor.
- A simple test, such as a routine complete blood count (CBC), can provide clues about plasma-related problems.
- You too can help save someone's life by donating plasma.
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