Final answer:
The buffy coat in a centrifuged blood sample is composed of leukocytes and platelets, not proteins, and it plays a key role in the body's immune response and blood clotting processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The buffy coat refers to a thin, pale layer found in a centrifuged blood sample. This layer is composed of leukocytes (white blood cells) and platelets, which both play critical roles in the body's immune response and blood clotting processes, respectively.
The buffy coat sits between the heavier red blood cells (erythrocytes) at the bottom of the tube and the plasma, which is the liquid component of the blood at the top. Contrary to the true or false statement, the buffy coat does not consist of the blood's proteins but rather the aforementioned cellular components. During the blood clotting process, platelets and clotting factors such as fibrinogen interact to form a fibrin clot, which helps prevent blood loss and allows wounds to heal.