US Medical Term · anatomy
Plasma
Plasma
Also: Plasma sanguíneo (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Plasma |
| Spanish (Español) | Plasma |
| Chinese (中文) | 血漿 |
| Korean (한국어) | 혈장 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Huyết tương |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Plasma ng dugo |
| Portuguese (Português) | Plasma |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | พลาสมา |
| Japanese (日本語) | 血漿 |
What it means
Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood, making up about 55 percent of total blood volume. It is a pale yellow fluid composed mostly of water (about 92 percent), along with dissolved proteins, nutrients, hormones, waste products, and clotting factors. Plasma transports red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets throughout the body, and carries nutrients from digestion to organs. It also helps regulate blood pressure and body temperature. Plasma proteins such as albumin and fibrinogen play important roles in clotting, immune defense, and maintaining fluid balance. Plasma can be donated separately from whole blood and is used in medical treatments for burn patients, trauma victims, and people with clotting disorders.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My doctor explained that the liquid part of my blood, the plasma, carries important proteins.
El médico explicó que la parte líquida de mi sangre, el plasma, transporta proteínas importantes.
I was told I may need a plasma transfusion after my injury.
Me dijeron que puede que necesite una transfusión de plasma después de la lesión.
What does the plasma protein level on my blood test mean?
¿Qué significa el nivel de proteínas en el plasma en mi análisis de sangre?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026