Final answer:
Centrifugation of blood separates it into plasma, the buffy coat, and erythrocytes. The plasma contains water and dissolved substances such as coagulation factors and antibodies, the buffy coat consists of leukocytes and platelets, and the erythrocytes make up the bottom layer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Centrifugation of blood results in the separation of its components due to differences in density. The top layer is the plasma, which is a pale, straw-colored fluid consisting of about 90 percent water, with dissolved substances important for the body's pH, osmotic balance, and protection, as well as coagulation factors and antibodies. Below this layer is the buffy coat, a thin, pale layer which comprises of leukocytes (white blood cells) and platelets (thrombocytes). This layer typically constitutes less than 1 percent of the total blood sample.
The heaviest and bottom layer is formed by the erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells (RBCs), which account for about 45 percent of blood by volume. The measurement of the percentage of erythrocytes in the blood, called hematocrit, is important for diagnosing various conditions. Centrifugation enables the clear stratification of these components within a sample, which can then be analyzed for medical purposes.