Red Blood Cells
- circular, biconcave in shape
- No nucleus
- flexible
- contains a red pigment called hemoglobin
- 3-4 months lifespan
- destroyed in spleen and liver
Main function: Transports oxygen from the lungs to the other parts of the body → for cellular/tissue respiration to release energy for cell activities.
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contains hemoglobin that can bind reversibly with oxygen in the lungs. → in lungs → where O2 concentration is high, hemoglobin binds with oxygen to form oxyhemoglobin → in tissues where oxygen concentration is low - oxyhemoglobin releases its oxygen to the tissue cells. (becomes hemoglobin again)
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biconcave shape → increase SA to V ratio → increases rate of absorption and release of oxygen
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flexible → can change its shaped into a bell shaped structure → and can flow easily through narrow blood capillaries.
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Have no nucleus → means there is more space for more hemoglobin to be stored.
→ Lower concentration of oxygen in the air at high altitudes compared to sea level. oxygen gradient between air and the lungs is less steep. diffusion of oxygen into lungs is slower. less O2 is absorbed into the bloodstream. → to compensate for this → body responds by producing more RBC with hemoglobin. → this will ensure that sufficient oxygen will be available for aerobic respiration to provide enough energy to meet activities.