The blood consists of several types of leukocytes, erythrocytes and platelet suspended in plasma. The cellular elements of the blood are produced in extravascular tissues such as the bone marrow and lymphoid tissues. After delivery into the circulating blood ,the cellular elements may function within the vascular system or after passing into tissues. Blood elements have fixed lifespans and when they die are removed from the circulation and replaced by new cellular elements. The concentration of the various cellular elements of the blood are maintained within strict limits.
Plasma constitutes greater than one-half of the blood volume and is largely made up of water.
Ingested Cu, transported to the liver by albumin, is bound to apoceruloplasmin and secreted into the serum. Ceruloplasmin is recycled and degraded in the liver and the Cu excreted in bile. In there appears to be a defect in Cu mobilization from hepatic lysozymes. The accumulated Cu suppresses synthesis of apoceruloplasmin, resulting in low serum ceruloplasmin. Haptoglobin binds free hemoglobin and thus can be used as a measure of RBC destruction.