Red Blood Cells and Anemia

Study Notes

Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, are disc-shaped cells responsible for transporting oxygen from lungs to tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs, acting as acid-base buffers.
Red blood cells lack a nucleus and contain hemoglobin, a protein responsible for oxygen transportation.
Anemia occurs when there is a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, leading to reduced oxygen supply to body tissues.
Polycythemia, also known as polycythemia vera, is a condition with an excess of red blood cells, leading to thicker, more viscous blood.
Red blood cells are produced from stem cells, called colony-forming unit-erythrocytes (CFU-Es), in the bone marrow and develop into reticulocytes before maturing into erythrocytes.
Humans produce red blood cells throughout their life, with production shifting from the liver to the bone marrow after birth.
Regular adult production of red blood cells is carried out by the vertebrae, sternum, and ribs.
Vitamin B12 and folic acid are essential for red blood cell maturation.
Pernicious anemia results from a deficiency of these vitamins, leading to immature and fewer red blood cells.
Hemoglobin synthesis occurs in the proerythroblasts and continues through reticulocyte development.
Iron is required in the heme group of hemoglobin for oxygen binding.
Sickle-cell anemia, a genetic disorder, results from a mutation in one of the amino acids of hemoglobin, causing red blood cells to take on a sickle shape.
Iron is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, and a deficiency can lead to anemia due to inadequate red blood cell production.
Red blood cells have a lifespan of approximately 120 days and are recycled through the spleen when destroyed.
Disorders of red blood cells include anemia due to blood loss, bone marrow dysfunction, vitamin deficiencies, immune conditions, and inherited genetic conditions.
Anemia results in a reduced blood viscosity, while polycythemia, an excess of red blood cells, increases blood viscosity and can lead to clots and other complications.

Description

Test your knowledge about red blood cells, their functions, production, and related disorders such as anemia and polycythemia. Learn about hemoglobin, vitamin requirements, and genetic disorders affecting red blood cells.