What is the main role of plasma in the blood?

Plasma plays a crucial role in the blood primarily through its function in transporting nutrients, hormones, and waste products throughout the body. Comprising around 55% of total blood volume, plasma is a yellowish liquid that contains water, electrolytes, proteins, nutrients, hormones, and waste products.

Nutrients absorbed from the digestive tract are dissolved in plasma and transported to cells for energy and growth. Similarly, hormones produced by glands are carried through plasma to target organs where they exert their effects. Additionally, waste products generated by cellular metabolism, such as carbon dioxide and urea, are also carried in the plasma to the organs responsible for their excretion, including the lungs and kidneys.

The other functions mentioned in the options contribute to specific aspects of homeostasis and immune response, but they are not the primary roles of plasma itself. For example, clot formation is primarily a function of platelets and certain coagulation factors rather than plasma. While plasma does contain proteins that assist in clotting, the actual process is a more complex interplay involving several components. Fighting infections is largely the role of white blood cells rather than plasma. Regulating body temperature involves various physiological processes, including those governed by blood flow but is not a direct function of plasma.

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