Here is a blood sample that has been spun in a centrifuge. List, as completely as you can, the components you would find in the straw-colored fluid at the top of this tube and in the dense red portion at the bottom.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the straw-colored fluid at the top of the tube as plasma.
2. List the components found in plasma: water, proteins (such as albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen), electrolytes (such as sodium, potassium, calcium, bicarbonate), nutrients (such as glucose, amino acids, lipids), hormones, and waste products (such as urea, creatinine).
3. Identify the dense red portion at the bottom of the tube as the packed red blood cells (erythrocytes).
4. Note that the white layer between the plasma and the red blood cells is the buffy coat, which contains white blood cells (leukocytes) and platelets (thrombocytes).
5. Summarize the components: Plasma (top layer) contains water, proteins, electrolytes, nutrients, hormones, and waste products; the buffy coat (middle layer) contains white blood cells and platelets; the packed red blood cells (bottom layer) contain erythrocytes.

Key Concepts

Blood Components

Blood is composed of several key components, primarily plasma and formed elements. Plasma, the liquid portion, makes up about 55% of blood volume and contains water, electrolytes, proteins, hormones, and waste products. The formed elements include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are crucial for oxygen transport, immune response, and clotting, respectively.

Centrifugation

Centrifugation is a laboratory technique that uses rapid spinning to separate components of a mixture based on density. In the case of blood, this process causes the denser red blood cells to settle at the bottom of the tube, while the lighter plasma remains on top. This separation allows for the analysis of different blood components and their respective functions.

Plasma Composition

Plasma is a straw-colored fluid that serves as the medium for transporting various substances throughout the body. It contains proteins such as albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen, which play roles in maintaining osmotic pressure, immune function, and blood clotting. Additionally, plasma carries nutrients, waste products, gases, and hormones, making it essential for homeostasis and overall health.