Answer :
Final answer:
The statement is false; normal hematocrit values typically range from 42 to 52% for males and 37 to 47% for females. These values reflect the volume of erythrocytes as a percentage of total blood volume, with the remaining blood plasma constituting the balance of the sample.
Explanation:
The normal hematocrit values vary by gender. For males, normal hematocrit ranges are typically from 42 to 52% with a mean of 47%, and for females, they range from 37 to 47% with a mean value of 41%. This indicates that the values provided in the question statement (Men: 38.3-48.6%, Women: 35.5-44.9%) are not accurate according to the typical ranges. Hematocrit is a measure of the volume of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in a blood sample, often expressed as a percentage of the total blood volume.
When analyzing a sample where a patient's hematocrit is 42 percent, it would mean the approximate percentage of blood that is plasma is 58 percent (100 minus 42). It's important to note that the buffy coat, consisting of leukocytes (white blood cells) and thrombocytes (platelets), is normally less than 1 percent and is not typically included in the hematocrit measurement.
