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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of red blood cells?
What is the primary function of red blood cells?
What structural feature of red blood cells enhances their ability to exchange gases?
What structural feature of red blood cells enhances their ability to exchange gases?
Which component constitutes about 33% of a red blood cell's weight?
Which component constitutes about 33% of a red blood cell's weight?
What is the diameter of a typical red blood cell?
What is the diameter of a typical red blood cell?
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How many red blood cells does a healthy adult male typically have per microliter of blood?
How many red blood cells does a healthy adult male typically have per microliter of blood?
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What percentage of carbon dioxide does hemoglobin transport?
What percentage of carbon dioxide does hemoglobin transport?
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What happens to carbon dioxide when blood flows through body tissues?
What happens to carbon dioxide when blood flows through body tissues?
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What is the rate at which new mature red blood cells enter the circulation?
What is the rate at which new mature red blood cells enter the circulation?
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Study Notes
Red Blood Cells (RBCs)
- RBCs, also called erythrocytes, carry oxygen
- Hemoglobin, a protein, gives blood its red color
- A healthy adult male has ~5.4 million RBCs/µL of blood; a healthy adult female has ~4.8 million RBCs/µL
- RBCs are biconcave discs, 7-8 µm in diameter, allowing for efficient gas exchange
- RBCs lack a nucleus and other organelles; they cannot reproduce or carry out extensive metabolic activities
- RBCs contain hemoglobin, making up ~33% of their weight; synthesized before nucleus loss
- RBC production rate is high, ~2 million/second, to maintain normal numbers.
RBC Physiology
- RBCs are specialized for oxygen transport
- RBCs lack mitochondria, generating ATP without oxygen, so they don't consume the oxygen they carry
- Their biconcave shape maximizes surface area for gas exchange
- Each RBC contains ~280 million hemoglobin molecules
- Hemoglobin is a protein (globin) with four polypeptide chains (two alpha, two beta) and heme groups; each heme contains iron that reversibly binds oxygen
- Hemoglobin carries 4 oxygen molecules
Hemoglobin Function
- Transports oxygen
- Transports ~23% of carbon dioxide
- The iron in heme binds oxygen for transport by hemoglobin
- Carbon dioxide combines with amino acids in the globin, then released in lungs
- Plays a role in blood flow and blood pressure regulation
- Hemoglobin contains 4 polypeptide chains and 4 heme groups
- Each subunit has a heme ring containing iron, capable of binding 1 oxygen molecule. Therefore hemoglobin can carry 4 oxygen molecules.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of red blood cells (RBCs), also known as erythrocytes. Learn about their structure, function, and the crucial role they play in oxygen transport within the body. This quiz covers information on hemoglobin and the unique characteristics that make RBCs essential for life.
