Chapter 18 - Section 18.1 - Introduction - Before You Go On - Page 678: 2

The two principal components of blood are: (i) Plasma (ii)Formed elements

Plasma: • Plasma is the fluid component of blood • The amount of plasma is equal to 55% of total blood volume • Plasma contains proteins known as Plasma proteins- Albumin, Globulin, Fibrinogen • Albumin plays an important role in maintaining osmotic pressure • Globulin is responsible for protection of body • Fibrinogen plays an important role in blood coagulation and contributes to viscosity of Plasma • Plasma without fibrinogen is known as Serum. It has wide range of clinical applications Formed elements: • It constitutes 45% of total blood volume • These are formed in bone marrow • Formed elements are of three types- Erythrocytes(RBC), Leucocytes (WBC), Thrombocytes (Platelets) • RBCs contain hemoglobin and it transports oxygen and carbon-dioxide • WBCs protect body from foreign antigens • WBCs are of two types- Granulocytes and Agranulocytes • Granulocytes- Basophils, Neutrophils, Eosinophils • Agranulocytes- Lymphocytes and Monocytes • Platelets are involved in blood clotting mechanism