Explain Viscosity - Functions of Plasma Proteins
Plasma proteins account for about half of the viscosity of blood, the other half being due to the blood cells. The contribution of each type of plasma protein to viscosity depends more on the molecular shape rather than the molecular size. That is why, a given concentration of fibrinogen, which has a long fibrillar molecule, contributes much more to viscosity than the same concentration of albumin, which has an elliptical molecule.