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Blood Plasma

Plasma is the liquid that makes up blood and carries the red and white blood cells and platelets around the body. Plasma also transports other substances:

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide

  • Carbon dioxide is a waste product made by cells in respiration.
  • It is dissolved in the plasma, and transported to the lungs where it is breathed out.
Heat energy

Heat energy

  • Because plasma is a liquid, it can easily carry heat energy around the body.
  • When we are too hot or too cold, our blood flow changes to increase or decrease the amount of heat energy we lose from our bodies.
Urea

Urea

  • Urea is a substance made in the liver from excess protein.
  • Urea is dissolved in the blood plasma, and then passes out of the body in urine.
Hormones

Hormones

  • Hormones such as insulin and sex hormones are transported around the body dissolved in the plasma.
Digested food

Digested food

  • Digested food particles are absorbed into the blood from the small intestine.
  • They are transported, dissolved in the plasma, to the parts of the body where they are needed.
Jump to other topics
1

The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2

Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3

Organism Functions

3.1

Respiration

3.2

Gas Exchange

3.3

Transport

3.4

Excretion

3.5

Coordination & Response

4

Reproduction & Inheritance

5

Ecology

6

Biological Resources

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