Publisher Summary Plasma proteins form major transport systems as in the case of
lipoproteins and iron-binding proteins or recognition systems as in the case of
immunoglobulins; and they play important roles in the defense of the organism. In addition to
the immunoglobulins, four major pathways of proteins in the plasma contribute to the host's
capacity to defend against foreign substances, traumatic events, and internal disorders: they
are the complement, contact (Hageman factor), extrinsic clotting, and fibrinolytic systems …