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Questions and Answers
What is the thickness of the RBC plasma membrane?
What is the thickness of the RBC plasma membrane?
- 5 μm (correct)
- 3 μm
- 10 μm
- 7 μm
What does an increase in Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) lead to?
What does an increase in Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) lead to?
- Increased flexibility
- Decreased deformability (correct)
- Increased deformability
- No effect on deformability
What is the primary factor that allows RBCs to adjust to small vessels in the microvasculature?
What is the primary factor that allows RBCs to adjust to small vessels in the microvasculature?
- Deformability (correct)
- Osmotic balance
- RBC shape
- Thickness of the membrane
What is the impact of RBC geometry on deformability?
What is the impact of RBC geometry on deformability?
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What is the shape of RBCs that facilitates their deformability?
What is the shape of RBCs that facilitates their deformability?
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Study Notes
Red Blood Cell Characteristics
- The thickness of the RBC plasma membrane is approximately 7.5 nanometers.
- An increase in Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) can lead to increased blood viscosity, potentially affecting circulation and oxygen delivery.
Microvascular Adaptation
- The primary factor allowing RBCs to adjust to small vessels in the microvasculature is their ability to undergo deformation due to their flexible membrane and cytoskeleton.
Deformability and Geometry
- The geometry of RBCs, specifically their biconcave disc shape, enhances their deformability, enabling them to easily squeeze through narrow capillaries.
- This unique shape reduces the surface area to volume ratio, facilitating efficient gas exchange and improving flow through the circulatory system.
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