Remember what the liquid part of the blood is called: red blood cells, plasma or lymph? Do you have difficulty answering? Then let's remember together.
What is blood
It's hard to believe, but blood is a type of connective tissue. And to prove it is easy enough. Blood consists of a liquid part and blood cells. The first is an intercellular substance. It is quite a lot, therefore, all tissues of the internal environment are loose and form the basis of the body. And blood cells are the cells that are in it. They are also called shaped elements.
Plasma and body fluids
The liquid part of the blood is called plasma. Its aggregate state and physical properties largely determine the functions of this type of tissue. This is a yellow liquid, which has a significant viscosity due to the presence of proteins and uniform elements in it. Its share in the blood is about 60%.
The internal environment of the body is blood, lymph, tissue fluid. Water is a prerequisite for complex chemical processes of synthesis and decomposition of substances, as well as their transportation throughout the body.
Chemical composition of plasma
The liquid part of the blood is called plasma and is its intercellular substance. 90% of it consists of water. The next highest percentage is followed by proteins, the rate of which reaches up to 8%. These are fibrinogen, albumin and globulins. These proteins provide water metabolism and humoral immunity, transport hormones, and regulate osmotic pressure.
Much less in plasma of other organic substances. Carbohydrates make up 0.12%, and even less fat - 0.7%.
Mineral components of blood plasma are represented by salts. These substances are there in the form of charged particles. These are cations of sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, copper. Negatively charged particles include residues of chloride, carbonate, phosphoric and other mineral acids. A special role among these substances belongs to physiological saline. Its content in plasma is always at a constant level. This is a solution of sodium chloride in water, the salt concentration in which is 0.9%. In case of blood loss, this is used to restore its required volume. This is very important especially in cases when it is impossible to establish the group and Rh factor of a person who needs medical attention.
Blood cells
40% of the blood is made up of its shaped elements, each type of which is characterized by a specific structure and functions. So, red blood cells are red biconcave discs. These cells are non-nuclear and contain hemoglobin. The main function of red blood cells is gas exchange. They transport oxygen from the lungs to every cell in the body, as well as carbon dioxide in the opposite direction.
White blood cells are colorless nuclear cells that do not have a constant shape. They are characterized by an amoeboid movement. At the same time, by phagocytosis, they neutralize pathogenic particles that enter the bloodstream and form a person’s immunity.
Platelets coagulate. These are rounded colorless plates. With their help, a complex enzymatic conversion of the fibrinogen protein into its insoluble form is carried out. As a result, the body protects itself from excessive blood loss, which can be life threatening.
Blood function
Human life without blood is simply impossible. After all, plasma (the liquid part of the blood is called that way) together with the shaped elements ensures the breathing of living organisms.
Another important function is to provide nutrition. After all, organic matter comes from the digestive canal into the bloodstream, in which they are already transported to each cell. Since plasma is an aqueous solution, it takes part in maintaining homeostasis and a constant body temperature. The protective functions of the blood can also include coagulation and the formation of immunity.
So, the liquid part of the blood is called plasma. It is an intercellular substance in which shaped elements are located. Together, they perform transport, respiratory, excretory and respiratory functions.