Which statements characterize albumin? (Select all that apply.)
A)It retains sodium to maintain water balance.
B)It provides colloid osmotic pressure.
C)It is synthesized in the liver.
D)It is a carrier for drugs that have low water solubility.
E)It is a small molecule.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Albumin is a plasma protein produced by the liver. It serves as a carrier molecule for the normal components of blood, as well as for drugs that have low solubility in water (e.g., free fatty acids, lipid-soluble hormones, thyroid hormones, bile salts). Albumin molecules are large and do not diffuse freely through the vascular endothelium; thus they maintain the critical colloidal osmotic pressure (or oncotic pressure) that regulates the passage of water and solutes into the surrounding tissues.

Which Statements Characterize Albumin? (Select All That Apply.)