Before the differences between blood and plasma are enumerated in the following sections, it is important to understand what they are. Blood is a body fluid. Blood flows through the entirety of the circulatory system in most living organisms. Circulatory systems are present in most animals having vertebrates. Blood carries substances like oxygen as well as nutrients to all the organs and extremities of the body. At the most particulate level, blood as fluid is composed of many cells called blood cells. Blood is a unique fluid for there is no substitute for it. Plasma is a component of blood.
Difference Between Blood and Plasma
The difference between blood and plasma is essentially semantics. There are four kinds of constituents of blood. Those are:
- Platelets
- Plasma
- White Blood Cells
- Red Blood Cells
Plasma is essentially the fluid part of blood.
The differences between blood and plasma are:
Blood | Plasma |
Blood is made up of cells such as white and red blood cells, plasma, and platelets | Plasma contains glucose, water, carbon dioxide (dissolved), amino acids, salts, vitamins, minerals, protein, antibodies |
Blood is the name of the circulatory body fluid | plasma is the component of blood and it is the fluid part of blood |
It has cellular components | It does not have cellular components |
Contains an incompatibility risk when transfusing blood | Does not have an incompatibility risk when transfusing plasma |
Becomes solid (clots) when exposed to the outside environment resulting from cuts or bruises due to injuries | The process of clotting leads to the stage where the plasma transforms into serum |
Blood is responsible for the creation of white and red blood cells as well as platelets | Plasma is responsible for producing fat cells as well as cartilage |
It creates antibodies | It carries antibodies |
Blood
Blood is a body fluid. Blood flows through the entirety of the circulatory system in most living organisms. Circulatory systems are present in most animals having vertebrates. Blood carries substances like oxygen as well as nutrients to all the organs and extremities of the body.
Plasma
Plasma is essentially the fluid part of blood. Blood is not just the free-flowing liquid that we see when we have cuts. It is made up of different kinds of substances both semi-liquid and semi-solid. Plasma is the runny, watery portion of blood. The colour of plasma when isolated is yellow. It has the function of delivering useful nutrients as well as water content to all organs and tissues.
Functions
Plasma has the function of delivering useful nutrients as well as water content to all organs and tissues. Blood has the function of carrying nutrients, metabolic wastes, and respiratory gases to essential organs and extremities of the body. Blood can be donated. It is a very important component of the body. Serum or plasma is donated separately after being removed and extracted from blood. Plasma is used in many treatments.
Conclusion
Plasma is responsible for producing fat cells as well as cartilage. Plasma contains glucose, water, carbon dioxide (dissolved), amino acids, salts, vitamins, minerals, protein, antibodies. Blood as fluid is composed of many cells called blood cells. Blood is a unique fluid for there is no substitute for it. Major elements of differences between blood and plasma have been discussed. Blood moves through veins, capillaries, and arteries. Plasma contains red and white blood cells. The percentage of plasma is more than the cells in the blood