Final answer:
The process called ultrafiltration involves the removal of plasma water and low-molecular weight particles using a pressure or osmotic gradient.
Step-by-step explanation:
The removal of plasma water and some low–molecular weight particles by using a pressure or osmotic gradient is known as ultrafiltration. This process is crucial in the functioning of the kidneys, where blood pressure forces water and solutes out of the blood and into the renal tubules.
In medical applications, such as in hemodialysis, the patient's blood is passed through a dialysis machine where waste molecules and excess water are filtered out by creating an osmotic gradient. Red and white blood cells, being too large, are retained in the blood, thus cleansing it before it's returned to the body.