Blood plasma is the pale yellow liquid component of
blood that normally holds the
blood cells in
whole blood in
suspension; this makes plasma the
extracellular matrix of blood cells. It makes up about 55% of the body's total blood volume. It is the
intravascular fluid part of
extracellular fluid (all body fluid outside of cells). It is mostly water (up to 95 y volume), and contains dissolved
proteins (6–8%) (i.e.—
serum albumins,
globulins, and
fibrinogen),
glucose,
clotting factors,
electrolytes (Na
+, Ca
2+, Mg
2+, HCO
3-, Cl
-, etc.),
hormones, and
carbon dioxide (plasma being the main medium for excretory product transportation). Plasma also serves as the protein reserve of the human body. It plays a vital role in an intravascular
osmotic effect that keeps electrolytes in balanced form and protects the body from
infection and other blood disorders.