Red Blood Cell Functions and Lifespan

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What is the main function of red blood cells?

Carrying oxygen to the tissues (correct)

Eliminating toxins from the body

Transporting nutrients to the tissues

Producing energy for the body

How many haemoglobin molecules are approximately found in each red blood cell?

640 million (correct)

740 million

800 million

500 million

Which type of haemoglobin is dominant in adult blood after 3–6 months of age?

Hb F

Hb C

Hb A2

Hb A (correct)

What vitamin acts as a coenzyme for the synthesis of haemoglobin?

Vitamin B6 Signup and view all the answers

Where does haem synthesis mostly occur in the cell?

Mitochondria Signup and view all the answers

Which enzyme is the key rate-limiting enzyme in the haem synthesis process?

ALA synthase Signup and view all the answers

What is the main indication for the use of erythropoietin?

End-stage renal disease Signup and view all the answers

Which hormone deficiency may be associated with anaemia?

Thyroxine Signup and view all the answers

What is the normal percentage range of Hb F (fetal hemoglobin) in adult blood?

1.5-3.2% Signup and view all the answers

Which vitamin is NOT mentioned as being associated with anaemia?

Vitamin D Signup and view all the answers

What are potential side effects of erythropoietin therapy?

Local injection site reactions Signup and view all the answers

What is valuable in predicting an effective response to erythropoietin therapy?

Low serum erythropoietin level prior to treatment Signup and view all the answers

Which protein is the most abundant in the membrane skeleton?

α spectrin Signup and view all the answers

What are the structural proteins that form the membrane skeleton?

α and β spectrin, protein 4.1, and ankyrin Signup and view all the answers

How do the α and β spectrin chains associate to form tetramers?

Head to head Signup and view all the answers

What do the tetramers of spectrin link to at their tail end?

Actin Signup and view all the answers

To what does the β spectrin chains attach at the head end?

Ankyrin Signup and view all the answers

'Vertical connections' in the membrane skeleton are associated with which transmembrane protein?

Protein band 3 Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated total distance traveled by a red blood cell in its 120-day lifespan?

480 km Signup and view all the answers

Which pathway is responsible for generating energy as ATP in a red blood cell?

Embden–Meyerhof pathway Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of NADPH in a red blood cell?

Maintain SH groups intact Signup and view all the answers

In which pathway does approximately 10% of glycolysis occur in a red blood cell?

Hexose monophosphate pathway Signup and view all the answers

Which medical condition makes red cells extremely susceptible to oxidant stress?

G6PD deficiency Signup and view all the answers

What is the end product of glucose metabolism in a red blood cell?

Lactate Signup and view all the answers

In the classification of anaemia based on red cell indices, how many main categories are identified?

Three Signup and view all the answers

Which physiological condition results in a high mean corpuscular volume (MCV)?

Infancy Signup and view all the answers

What does a high mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in normal pregnancy indicate?

Normal physiological change Signup and view all the answers

Why is measurement of leucocyte and platelet counts important in distinguishing different conditions?

To differentiate between 'pure' anaemia and 'pancytopenia' Signup and view all the answers

What does 'pancytopenia' suggest about the marrow?

Marrow hypoplasia or infiltration Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does the red cell indices NOT provide information about in anaemia classification?

'Pancytopenia' causes Signup and view all the answers