What term refers to the thin, straw-colored fluid that carries oxygen and nutrients to cells?

The correct term for the thin, straw-colored fluid that carries oxygen and nutrients to cells is plasma. Plasma is a component of blood, making up about 55% of its total volume. It is primarily composed of water, but it also contains proteins, nutrients, hormones, and waste products. Plasma plays a critical role in transporting these essential substances throughout the body, including oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and nutrients from the digestive system to the cells.

In terms of the other terms: serum is the liquid portion that remains after blood has clotted, interstitial fluid is the fluid found in the spaces between cells, and lymph is the fluid that circulates through the lymphatic system, primarily involved in immune responses and the transport of fats from the digestive system. Each of these fluids has its distinct functions but does not encompass the comprehensive role that plasma serves in nutrient and oxygen transportation in the bloodstream.