Plasma

plasma

 [plaz´mah]

1. the fluid portion of the lymph.

2. the fluid portion of the blood, in which the formed elements (blood cells) are suspended. Plasma is to be distinguished from serum, which is plasma from which the fibrinogen has been separated in the process of clotting. Called also blood plasma. adj., adj plasmat´ic, plas´mic.

Of the total volume of blood, 55 per cent is made up of plasma. It is a clear, straw-colored liquid, 92 per cent water, in which are contained plasma proteins, inorganic salts, nutrients, gases, waste materials from the cells, and various hormones, secretions, and enzymes. These substances are transported to or from the tissues of the body by the plasma.

Plasma obtained from blood donors is given to persons suffering from loss of blood or from shock to help maintain adequate blood pressure. Since plasma can be dried and stored in bottles, it can be transported almost anywhere, ready for immediate use after addition of the appropriate fluid. Plasma can be given to anyone, regardless of blood type. (See also transfusion.)

Plasma volume is sometimes measured in order to calculate the total blood volume. The most common method for determining plasma volume is by injection of a dye (T-1824, called Evans blue) into the circulating blood and, after the dye has been dispersed throughout the body, using the dilution of the dye to calculate the total blood volume.

antihemophilic human plasma normal human plasma that 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 (def. 2).

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

plasma exchange the removal of plasma from withdrawn blood (plasmapheresis) and retransfusion of the formed elements and type-specific fresh frozen plasma into the donor; done for removal of circulating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

fresh frozen plasma plasma separated from whole blood and frozen within 8 hours; it contains all the coagulation factors.

plasma thromboplastin antecedent deficiency hemophilia C.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

plas·ma

(plaz'mă),

1. The proteinaceous fluid (noncellular) portion of the circulating blood, as distinguished from the serum obtained after coagulation. Synonym(s): blood plasma

2. The fluid portion of the lymph.

3. The fluid in which the fat droplets of milk are suspended.

4. A "fourth state of matter" in which, owing to elevated temperature, atoms have broken down to form free electrons and more-or-less stripped nuclei; produced in the laboratory in connection with hydrogen fusion (thermonuclear) research.

5. Highly ionized gas.

Synonym(s): plasm

[G. something formed]

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

plasma

(plăz′mə)

n. also plasm (plăz′əm)

1.

a. The clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood, lymph, or intramuscular fluid in which cells are suspended. It differs from serum in that it contains fibrin and other soluble clotting elements.

b. Blood plasma, especially when sterilized and depleted of cells for transfusion.

2. Protoplasm or cytoplasm.

---

plas·mat′ic (plăz-măt′ĭk), plas′mic (-mĭk) adj.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

plasma

Lab medicine A clear yellowish extracellular fluid that comprises 50-55% of the blood volume; it is 92% liquid, 7% protein, < 1% inorganic salts, gases, hormones, sugars, lipids; fibrinogen- and coagulation factor-depleted plasma is 'serum'  Transfusion medicine See Fresh frozen plasma.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

plas·ma

(plaz'mă)

1. The fluid (noncellular) portion of the circulating blood, as distinguished from the serum obtained after coagulation.
Synonym(s): blood plasma.

2. The fluid portion of the lymph.

3. A "fourth state of matter" in which, owing to elevated temperature (about 10⁶ degrees), atoms have broken down to form free electrons and more or less stripped nuclei; produced in the laboratory in connection with hydrogen fusion (thermonuclear) research.
Synonym(s): plasm.

[G. something formed]

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

plasma

1. The fluid in which the blood cells are suspended.

2. Blood from which all cells have been removed. Plasma contains proteins, electrolytes and various nutrients and is capable of clotting.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

plasma

1. the cellular PROTOPLASM inside a plasma membrane.
2. see BLOOD PLASMA.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

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

Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

plas·ma

(plaz'mă)

Proteinaceous fluid (noncellular) portion of circulating blood, as distinguished from the serum obtained after coagulation.

[G. something formed]

Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012