Red Blood Cells Structure and Function

Structure and Function

• Red blood cells (RBCs), also known as erythrocytes, are disk-shaped cells with no nucleus
• They are flexible and can change shape to fit through narrow blood vessels
• RBCs are produced in the bone marrow through a process called erythropoiesis
• They have a lifespan of approximately 120 days in the circulation

Components

• Hemoglobin (Hb): a protein that binds to oxygen, allowing RBCs to transport oxygen from lungs to tissues
• Membrane: composed of lipids and proteins, maintaining cell shape and flexibility
• Cytoplasm: contains hemoglobin and enzymes involved in glycolysis

Functions

• Oxygen transport: RBCs carry oxygen from lungs to tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs
• Carbon dioxide transport: RBCs help remove carbon dioxide from the body
• Regulation of pH: RBCs help maintain acid-base balance by buffering excess hydrogen ions

Characteristics

• Biconcave disk shape: allows for maximum surface area and flexibility
• Diameter: approximately 7.5 micrometers
• Thickness: approximately 2.5 micrometers in the center and 1 micrometer at the edges
• Volume: approximately 90 femtoliters

Abnormalities

• Anemia: a condition characterized by a decrease in RBC count or hemoglobin level
• Polycythemia: a condition characterized by an increase in RBC count
• Sickle cell anemia: a genetic disorder causing RBCs to be abnormally shaped and prone to sickling
• Thalassemia: a genetic disorder affecting hemoglobin production, leading to abnormal RBCs

Structure and Function

• Red blood cells (RBCs) are disk-shaped, flexible, and lack a nucleus, allowing them to change shape to fit through narrow blood vessels.
• RBCs are produced in the bone marrow through erythropoiesis and have a lifespan of approximately 120 days in circulation.

Composition

• Hemoglobin is a protein that binds to oxygen, enabling RBCs to transport oxygen from lungs to tissues.
• The membrane is composed of lipids and proteins, maintaining cell shape and flexibility.
• Cytoplasm contains hemoglobin and enzymes involved in glycolysis.

Functions

• RBCs transport oxygen from lungs to tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs.
• They help remove carbon dioxide from the body.
• RBCs regulate pH by buffering excess hydrogen ions, maintaining acid-base balance.

Characteristics

• RBCs have a biconcave disk shape, allowing for maximum surface area and flexibility.
• They are approximately 7.5 micrometers in diameter.
• The thickness of RBCs is approximately 2.5 micrometers in the center and 1 micrometer at the edges.
• RBCs have a volume of approximately 90 femtoliters.

Abnormalities

• Anemia is characterized by a decrease in RBC count or hemoglobin level.
• Polycythemia is characterized by an increase in RBC count.
• Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder causing RBCs to be abnormally shaped and prone to sickling.
• Thalassemia is a genetic disorder affecting hemoglobin production, leading to abnormal RBCs.