catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  Plasma \Plas"ma\, n. [See Plasm.]
     1. (Min.) A variety of quartz, of a color between grass green
        and leek green, which is found associated with common
        chalcedony. It was much esteemed by the ancients for
        making engraved ornaments.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Biol.) The viscous material of an animal or vegetable
        cell, out of which the various tissues are formed by a
        process of differentiation; protoplasm.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Unorganized material; elementary matter.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Med.) A mixture of starch and glycerin, used as a
        substitute for ointments. --U. S. Disp.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. same as blood plasma.
        [PJC]
  
     6. (physics) a state of matter in which charged particles
        such as electrons and atomi nuclei have sufficiently high
        energy to move freely, rather than be bound in atoms as in
        ordinary matter; it has some of the properties of a gas,
        but is a conductor of electricity.
  
     Note: In a typical plasma, the number of positive and
           negative particles are approximately equal. Plasmas are
           found naturally in the atmosphere of stars, and can be
           created in special laboratory apparatus.
           [PJC]
  
     Blood plasma (Physiol.), the colorless fluid of the blood,
        in which the red and white blood corpuscles are suspended.
        It may be obtained by centrifuation of blood to remove the
        blood cells. It is distinguished from serum in that
        plasma still has the fibrin of blood, and may be clotted,
        while in serum the fibrin has been removed.
  
     Muscle plasma (Physiol.), the fundamental part of muscle
        fibers, a thick, viscid, albuminous fluid contained within
        the sarcolemma, which on the death of the muscle
        coagulates to a semisolid mass.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]

  
  
     Blood plasma (Physiol.), the colorless fluid of the blood,
        in which the red and white blood corpuscles are suspended.
        
  
     Muscle plasma (Physiol.), the fundamental part of muscle
        fibers, a thick, viscid, albuminous fluid contained within
        the sarcolemma, which on the death of the muscle
        coagulates to a semisolid mass.