I feel embarassed to ask this, because this is basic info. i thought i knew this, until i opened up a physio book.
Plasma = 55% of blood volume
that means the other 45% is taken up by blood cells (rbc, wbc, platlets)
this confused me a little, because i know that hematocrit averages around 45%. so this is 45% of the 45% that does not include plasma volume, right? sorry if my question is confusing.
in other words, the hematocrit of 45%, what is this percentage based on? surely it can't be based on total blood volume.
Plasma = 55% of blood volume
that means the other 45% is taken up by blood cells (rbc, wbc, platlets)
this confused me a little, because i know that hematocrit averages around 45%. so this is 45% of the 45% that does not include plasma volume, right? sorry if my question is confusing.
in other words, the hematocrit of 45%, what is this percentage based on? surely it can't be based on total blood volume.
