Erythrocytes, also known as red blood
cells (RBCs), function to transport oxygen in the blood.
1-The shape of erythrocytes is ideal
for this function. biconcaved discs. This shape increases the surface
area-to-volume ratio of the cell, thus increasing the efficiency of diffusion
of oxygen and carbon dioxide into and out of the cell.
2-Erythrocytes also have a flexible
plasma membrane. This feature allows erythrocytes, which have a 7mm diameter, to squeeze through
capillaries as small as 3 mm wide.
3-Erythrocytes contain tremendous
amounts of hemoglobin, the protein that binds oxygen. In order to make room for
more hemoglobin to carry more oxygen, erythrocytes loose their nucleus and
other organelles as they develop in the bone marrow.
4-Because they lack a nucleus and
other cellular machinery, erythrocytes cannot repair themselves when damaged, consequently
they have a limited life span of about 120 days. The removal of old and dying
erythrocytes is carryied out by the spleen.
5-Erythrocytes, which represent the
most numerous cell type in the body die at a rapid rate, 2-3 million
erythrocytes die every second. Erythrocyte production must equal erythrocyte
death or the cell population would decline. Erythrocytes are produced through a
process called erythropoesis.
**Subhanallah~ Maha suci Allah.
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