Final answer:
The leakage of plasma, the liquid component of blood, due to an injury is known as a hemorrhage. Plasma is essential in maintaining various bodily functions and contains clotting factors that, along with platelets, help stop further blood loss.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the liquid component of blood, known as plasma, leaks out due to an injury, it is called a hemorrhage. Hemorrhage is a loss of blood from the circulatory system that cannot be controlled by the body's hemostatic mechanisms. In cases of injury, when a blood vessel is severed, not just plasma but blood components such as erythrocytes, white blood cells, and platelets may leak out of the breaks. Plasma, which is the clear, straw-colored liquid portion of blood, makes up about 55% of blood volume and is crucial for maintaining the body's pH, osmotic load, and for protecting the body. It contains water, electrolytes, nutrients, waste products, proteins including clotting factors, and antibodies. Platelets, or thrombocytes, also play a key role during injuries as they accumulate at the wound site and form a plug to help prevent further blood loss and allow the wound to heal.