Which statement best describes plasma?

• A. Plasma is the liquid portion containing water, electrolytes, and proteins such as albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen
• B. Plasma consists of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets
• C. Plasma is the cellular component of blood containing iron and hemoglobin
• D. Plasma refers to intracellular fluid within cells

Answer: (A)

Plasma is the liquid part of blood that serves as the transport medium for cells and dissolved substances. It is mostly water, with electrolytes and a variety of proteins, including albumin, globulins, and fibrinogen. This description is the best because it identifies plasma as the fluid component in which the blood’s formed elements (red cells, white cells, and platelets) are suspended, and it notes the clotting factor fibrinogen that plasma contains. By contrast, the cellular components are the actual cells, not the liquid, and intracellular fluid is the water inside cells—not the fluid in blood.