Begin by understanding the components of blood. Blood is composed of cells suspended in a liquid matrix.
Identify the liquid matrix of blood. This is the part that carries cells and other substances throughout the body.
Learn the terminology: Plasma is the liquid component of blood, making up about 55% of its total volume.
Differentiate between plasma and serum. Plasma contains clotting factors, while serum is the liquid part of blood after clotting has occurred and does not contain these factors.
Recognize that lymph is a separate fluid found in the lymphatic system, and hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport.