Plasma

plasma /plas·ma/ (plaz´mah)

1. blood plasma; the fluid portion of the blood in which the particulate components are suspended.

2. the fluid portion of the lymph.plasmat´ic

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antihemophilic human plasma  human plasma which has been processed promptly to preserve the antihemophilic properties of the original blood; used for temporary correction of bleeding tendency in hemophilia.

blood plasma  plasma (1).

citrated plasma  blood plasma treated with sodium citrate, which prevents clotting.

seminal plasma  the fluid portion of the semen, in which the spermatozoa are suspended.

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plas·ma (plzm) or plasm (plzm)

n.

1. The clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended.

2. Cell-free, sterilized blood plasma, used in transfusions.

3. Protoplasm or cytoplasm.

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plas·matic (plz-mtk), plasmic (-mk) adj.

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Plasma

Plasma makes up 50% of human blood. It is a watery fluid that carries red cells, white cells, and platelets throughout the body.

Mentioned in: Blood Donation and Registry, Homocysteine, Hypocalcemia, Iron Tests, Partial Thromboplastin Time, Plasmapheresis, Prothrombin Time, Vitamins, Wounds

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plasma (plaz´m),

n the fluid portion of the blood that, after centrifugation, contains all the stable components except the cells. It is obtained from centrifuged whole blood that has been prevented from clotting by the addition of anticoagulants such as citrate, oxalate, or heparin.

plasma accelerator globulin,

n See proaccelerin and accelerator, prothrombin conversion, I.

plasma cell,

n a lymphoid or lymphocyte-like cell found in the bone marrow, connective tissue, and sometimes the blood. Plasma cells are involved in the immunologic mechanism. See also cell, plasma.

plasma, normal human,

n pooled sterile plasma from a number of persons to which a preservative has been added. It is stored under refrigeration or desiccated for later use as a substitute for whole blood.

plasma, platelet-rich (PRP),

n a type of blood that contains high levels of platelets consisting of numerous growth factors. It can be used as one component assisting in the acceleration of tissue healing in bone regeneration.

plasma proteolytic enzyme,

n See plasmin.

plasma spray,

n the focused shooting of ceramic or metal powders on a hot plasma flame to initiate further heating and then rapid cooling, resulting in a thick coated surface on an implant.

plasma thromboplastin antecedent,

n a factor required for the development of thromboplastic activity in plasma. Also called
antihemophilic factor C, factor XI, PTA, and
plasma thromboplastin factor C.

plasma thromboplastin component,

n a clotting factor in normal blood necessary for the development of thromboplastic activity in plasma. A deficiency results in Christmas disease. Also called
antihemophilic factor B, autoprothrombin II, Christmas factor, factor IX, platelet cofactor II, and
PTC. See also factor IX.

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plasma

the fluid portion of the blood in which corpuscles are suspended. Plasma is to be distinguished from serum, which is plasma from which the fibrinogen has been separated in the process of clotting.

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plasma bound

many electrolytes exist in plasma in a form in which they are bound to protein which reduces their lability and liability to loss in the urine, e.g. protein-bound iodine.

plasma cell gingitivitis-pharyngitis

see feline plasma cell gingivitis-pharyngitis.

plasma cell myeloma

see multiple myeloma.

plasma cell pododermatitis

a nonpainful swelling with ulceration and exuberant granulation tissue on the footpads of cats. The cause is unknown but believed to be immunological.

Plasma cell pododermatitis in a cat.

plasma clearing factor

a lipoprotein lipase which lipolyses the triglyceride in the chylomicrons of the plasma and hence clears it of cloudiness.

plasma exchange

the removal of plasma from withdrawn blood (plasmapheresis) and retransfusion of the formed elements and type-specific fresh-frozen plasma into the donor; done for removal of circulating antibodies or abnormal plasma components.

plasma expanders

see plasma volume expander.

fresh-frozen plasma

prepared from whole blood; a source of coagulation factors.

plasma protein

the heterologous group of proteins in circulating blood that includes albumin, lipoproteins, glycoproteins, transcortin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, cholinesterase, a₂-macroglobulin, erythropoietin, transferrin, hemopexin, fibrinogen, plasminogen and the immunoglobulins (?-globulins).

plasma protein:fibrinogen (PP:F) ratio

an indicator of significant changes in fibrinogen levels, taking into account dehydration.

plasma substitute

a fluid suitable for use as a replacement for plasma in the animal body. Usually a solution of gelatin or dextran.

therapeutic plasma concentration

a therapy-response relationship determined only by experiment; the plasma level which is matched by the desired therapeutic response.

plasma thromboplastin antecedent

clotting factor XI; see plasma thromboplastin antecedent.

plasma turbidity test

a qualitative test for fat absorption, performed by comparing the turbidity of plasma before and 2, 3 and 4 hours after the oral administration of fats, usually vegetable oil. Results are greatly influenced by delays in gastric emptying, so normally this test can only be relied upon to rule out malabsorption or maldigestion when evidence of absorption is found.

plasma volume

the estimation of plasma volume is essential to a complete knowledge of a patient's fluid status. The common technique is by the intravenous injection of a known amount of a dye such as Evans blue and the subsequent measurement of the dilution that it has undergone in a set time period.