Table Comparing Blood and Plasma: Structure, Function, and Importance
Before discussing what is the difference between Blood and Plasma? Let us have some basic idea about Blood and Plasma. Then we can discuss in brief the Difference between Blood and Plasma. The same question can also be asked as “Difference between Blood and Blood Plasma”.
Know the Difference between Blood and Plasma
Before directly jumping into the topic let's first discuss what's the distinction between Blood and Plasma? So relax allows us to have some primary concept about Blood and Plasma Then we will talk in short about the distinction among Blood and Plasma. The same question also can be asked as “distinction among Blood and Blood Plasma”.
A Descriptive Difference between Blood and Plasma
Plasma is the liquid thing of Blood
Blood is the frame’s fluid connective tissue that constitutes 55% Plasma, 45% Blood Cells.
Blood
Blood is part of the circulatory system. It helps to carry oxygen, Nutrients, and metabolic wastes to different parts of the body in humans as well as animals and also helps to transport metabolic waste away from those same cells.
The main components of the Blood are Blood cells (RBC, WBC, and Platelets), suspended in the Blood Plasma. In Blood cells, RBCs (Red Blood Cells) are also known as erythrocytes and WBCs (White Blood cells) are also known as leukocytes. Platelets are also referred to as thrombocytes. Vertebrates generally have Blood that is red in colour due to the presence of haemoglobin. However, Blood is bright red in colour when haemoglobin is oxygenated and dark red in colour when Blood is deoxygenated.
Functions of Blood
Blood performs an important function; some of the functions are listed below.
It supplies oxygen and other important nutrients to the tissue.
It also helps to remove carbon dioxide and other waste products from the tissue.
It helps in clotting at the site of injury and is cut with the help of platelets.
It helps to regulate the temperature and Ph of the body.
Plasma
Plasma is the major component of Blood. It acquires around 55% of the Blood and the rest 45% are RBC, WBC, and platelets. When only Plasma is separated from the Blood, it is light yellow in colour and it acquires Blood, salts, and enzymes. In simple words, we can say that the liquid part of Blood is known as Plasma.
The main function of Plasma is to carry nutrients, hormones, and proteins to the parts of the body that require them. It also includes antibodies, Clotting factors, proteins albumin, and fibrinogen. Plasma is donated to others to treat many serious health problems. If people want to donate Plasma, they go through a screening process to check Blood is healthy and safe.
Function of Plasma
As Plasma is one of the components of Blood, it performs an almost similar function as compared to Blood.
It maintains the electrolyte and fluid balance in the body.
It helps in immune function and clotting of the Blood.
It will serve as a protein reserve for the body.
It helps in the transportation of carbon dioxide, essential nutrients (organic, inorganic components and Plasma proteins), hormones (bound to Plasma proteins), waste (urea, uric acid, and creatinine), and other substances (for example drugs and alcohol) to and from the tissues.
Now, we have a basic idea about Blood and Plasma so let’s discuss the difference between Blood and Plasma.
Blood vs. Plasma Composition
Plasma and many types of cells make up blood, including red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and thrombocytes (platelets). Blood has a density of 1060 kg/m3, which is quite similar to that of pure water (1000 kg/m3).
Except for red, white, and thrombocytes, plasma comprises 90% water, proteins (albumin, fibrinogen, and globulins), nutrients (glucose, fatty acids, amino acids), waste products (urea, uric acid, lactic acid, creatinine), clotting factors, minerals, immunoglobulins, hormones, and carbon dioxide. Components can be dissolved (if they're soluble) or they can stay bound to proteins (if insoluble). The density of plasma is 1025 kg/m3.
What is the Difference between Plasma and Blood?
Storage of Blood and Plasma
Blood is stored in the Blood banks which are used for Blood transfusion and the components of the Blood like platelets, Blood Plasma, and coagulation factors are stored and administered intravenously.
Blood Plasma is stored by freezing at -40 degrees celsius for 10 years and it can be used to treat the diseases relating to coagulation factor-like coagulopathies and liver diseases. Earlier it was used during World War II.
Functional Differences of Blood and Plasma
Blood serves a critical role in the human body. The following are the key functions:
Oxygen (attached to haemoglobin in red blood cells) and other vital nutrients are delivered to tissues.
Carbon dioxide and other waste materials are removed from tissues.
White blood cell circulation is critical for immunological processes.
Clotting at the site of an injury or a cut.
The body's temperature and pH are regulated.
Because plasma is a fluid component of blood, it performs all of the same activities as blood. It is particularly beneficial in the following areas:
Keeping the blood's electrolytes and hydration balance in check.
Serves as the body's protein reserve.
Aids in the coagulation of blood.
Immune system functions
Carbon dioxide, vital nutrients (organic, inorganic components, and plasma proteins), hormones (bound to plasma proteins), waste (urea, uric acid, and creatinine), and other substances (drugs and alcohol, for example) are transported to and from the tissues.
Diseases
A blood disorder - Anemia, genetic disorders (thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia), leukaemia (blood cancer), haemophilia (inherited clotting disorder), infectious diseases (HIV, Hepatitis B and C, bacteremia, malaria, trypanosomiasis), and carbon monoxide poisoning are all examples of blood disorders. Dehydration, atherosclerosis, and other conditions are among the others.
Excessive drainage or fluid addition might induce volume alterations due to plasma shift. Changes in fluid volume across capillary membranes could be causing this volume variation. This shift can affect blood viscosity, protein content, red blood cell concentration, and coagulation factors, all of which can lead to clotting problems.
FAQs on Blood vs Plasma: What Sets Them Apart in Biology?
1. What is the main difference between blood and plasma?
The main difference is that blood is the complete fluid connective tissue that circulates in our body, while plasma is the liquid component of the blood. In simple terms, blood is composed of plasma, red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. If you remove all these cellular components, the remaining straw-coloured fluid is the plasma, which makes up about 55% of the total blood volume.
2. Why is blood red while plasma is yellowish?
The different colours are due to their unique compositions. Blood gets its characteristic red colour from a protein called haemoglobin found within the Red Blood Cells (RBCs), which is responsible for carrying oxygen. Plasma, on the other hand, is the blood fluid with all the cells removed. Its pale, straw-yellow colour comes from dissolved substances like proteins, bilirubin, and carotenoids.
3. What is the functional importance of plasma in the body?
Plasma is vital for several life-sustaining functions. Its primary roles include:
- Transport: It serves as a medium to carry blood cells, nutrients (like glucose), hormones, antibodies, and waste products throughout the body.
- Regulation: It helps maintain proper blood pressure, blood volume, and body pH.
- Protection: It contains crucial clotting factors, such as fibrinogen, which are essential for preventing excessive bleeding from injuries.
4. What are the main components of blood besides plasma?
Besides plasma, blood contains several cellular components known as formed elements. These include:
- Red Blood Cells (RBCs or Erythrocytes): These are responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues.
- White Blood Cells (WBCs or Leukocytes): These are key components of the immune system, defending the body against infections.
- Platelets (Thrombocytes): These are small cell fragments that initiate the process of blood clotting.
5. What is the key difference between blood plasma and serum?
The key difference lies in the presence of clotting factors. Plasma is the liquid part of un-clotted blood, so it contains the clotting protein called fibrinogen. Serum is the liquid that remains after the blood has clotted. In the clotting process, fibrinogen is used up to form the clot. Therefore, serum is essentially plasma but without the fibrinogen and other clotting factors.
6. How is donating plasma different from donating whole blood?
When you donate whole blood, the blood is drawn and collected in a bag to be separated later in a lab. In contrast, donating plasma uses a process called apheresis. This process involves drawing blood, machine-separating the plasma, and then returning the red blood cells and platelets to the donor's body. This allows a person to donate plasma more frequently than whole blood.
7. Under what medical conditions might a patient need plasma instead of whole blood?
A patient would receive a plasma transfusion, rather than whole blood, when they specifically need the proteins and substances within the plasma, but not the red blood cells. Common situations include:
- Treating patients with severe liver disease or failure, as the liver produces clotting factors found in plasma.
- Replenishing blood volume and clotting factors in victims of severe burns or trauma.
- Treating patients with clotting disorders like haemophilia who lack specific clotting factors.
