The average adult has a blood volume of approximately 5 liters, which comprises about 8% of the body's weight. The osmolality (concentration of solutes in water) of blood is 275-295 milliosmoles per kg.
Plasma is the straw-colored liquid component of blood. It is a protein-salt solution and acts as a suspension for red and white blood cells and platelets.
Plasma constitutes approximately 55% of blood's volume and is comprised of:
It is estimated that plasma may contain as many as 40,000 different proteins from about 500 gene products. Approximately 1,000 proteins have been detected.
Plasma contains three major types of proteins: albumins, globulins, and fibrinogens.
For every 600 red blood cells, there are approximately 40 platelets and one white cell.
Figure 1.Blood Composition
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