Tag: biology

A permanent record of the electric events occurring during a cardiac cycle made on a graph paper in a wave form called electrocardiogram. The electric events include depolarization and repolarization of the auricles and ventricles bringing about their contraction and relaxation. The instrument used to record hearts electric event is named electrocardiograph.

Plasma circulates dissolved nutrients, such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids (dissolved in the blood or bound to plasma proteins), and removes waste products, such as carbon dioxide, urea, and lactic acid.

The pH of the extracellular fluid, including the blood plasma, is normally tightly regulated between 7.32 and 7.42, by the chemical buffers, the respiratory system, and the renal system.

One half of blood is composed of red blood cells (consist of an oxygen-carrying protein called hemoglobin), white blood cells and platelets which are considered as solid part of blood and another half is composed of water, salts and proteins which is the fluid part of blood. The fluid part of blood is known as plasma. Hence plasma does not contain haemoglobin, blood cells.

Plasma, which is 92 percent water, constitutes 55 percent of blood volume. Plasma contains albumin (the chief protein constituent), fibrinogen (responsible, in part, for the clotting of blood), and globulins (including antibodies).

One half of blood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets which are considered as solid part of blood and another half is composed of water, salts and proteins which is the fluid part of blood. The fluid part of blood is known as plasma. Plasma is a straw coloured, viscous fluid it has about 90-92% water and 6-8% proteins. Hence a major component of blood plasma is water.

Sodium is the most abundant electrolyte, and the most abundant cation, in blood plasma. Sodium plays a large role in maintaining water balance in the blood and in the tissues.The body monitors sodium and the volume of blood; sensors in certain parts of the body, such as the blood vessels and kidney, tell the kidneys whether to increase or decrease the excretion of sodium and water. Sodium also plays an important role in the functioning of nerve and muscle cells. Sodium and potassium traveling back and forth across the membranes of cells generate a charge, which can cause a muscle cell to contract or a nerve cell to transmit a signal.

Blood proteins are different types of proteins found in blood plasma. These include majorly albumin, globulin, fibrinogen and other regulatory proteins which function as enzymes or hormones. Albumin alone accounts for 55% of the total blood proteins and is acidic in nature. It creates and maintains osmotic pressure of plasma and also helps in the transport of lipids and steroid hormones. Globulin is slightly basic and accounts for 38% of blood proteins. It participates in immune system. Fibrinogen comprises 7% of blood proteins and help in blood clotting.