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Plasma Volume Expansion

Meaning

Plasma volume expansion is the physiological process of increasing the total volume of the liquid, non-cellular component of the blood, known as plasma, often occurring as an adaptive response to sustained aerobic exercise, heat acclimatization, or specific pharmacological interventions. This increase in volume, without a proportional rise in red blood cell mass, leads to a state of hemodilution. The resulting larger circulating blood volume enhances cardiovascular efficiency by increasing stroke volume and improves thermoregulation by facilitating heat dissipation.