Health Articles : Blood Cells
Blood Cells : Functions of Red Blood Cells
Low White Blood Cell CountThe human body is a complex structure made up of several major and minor components. Apart from the major organs like the heart, ..... Blood is the life-maintaining fluid that circulates in the body. Blood cells are suspensions of special cells in a liquid called plasma. An adult man has around 5-6 liters of blood in the body. The main function of the blood is the transport of oxygen to different parts of the body. It conveys nutritive substances and transports hormones, antibodies and enzymes. Blood maintains body temperature and removes toxins from the body. The blood is composed of Plasma, Erythrocytes (red blood cells), Leucocytes (white blood cells) and platelets.
Erythrocytes are present in the largest number in the blood. There are around 4.6 million erythrocytes per mm cube. Erythrocytes are devoid of a nucleus. It has a biconcave shape. The red cells are rich in Hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that binds to oxygen. They have a life span of 120 days.
Erythrocytes have a specific shape and size, which is ideally suited to perform the function of ‘carrier of gases’. They possess distinct properties of biconcavity and reversible deformability. The flattened and biconcave shape provides a surface area most favorable for diffusion in and out of the cell. Reversible deformability enables the red blood cells to change their shape and squeeze through the microcirculation. The red blood cells have a prosthetic group and the active component of this group is Haem. Haem depends on the presence of Iron and it combines with Haemoglobin to form Oxyhaemoglobin. Oxygen combines with the haemoglobin in the blood as it passes through the lung capillaries. Oxyhaemoglobin returns to the heart through the pulmonary vein and enters the systemic circulation through the aorta.
High Red Blood Cell CountThe normal volumes of the count vary according to the age, sex, and elevation above sea level and the type of blood group. For .....
Erythrocytes are eventually broken down into blood pigments namely Bilirubin and Biliverdin and
Iron, in the spleen. These substances are then transported to the liver, by the blood. In the liver, Iron is re-cycled for use by other erythrocytes. The blood pigments form bile salts that help in digestion of fats.
The relative amounts of cholesterol and phospholids are responsible for the fluid properties of the erythrocyte membrane. Alteration in the membrane cholesterol-phospholipid ratio results in abnormal red blood cells with reduced life span.
Shape Of Red Blood CellsErythrocytes are the most common type of cells present in blood. Blood is a connective tissue composed of fluid plasma and blood cells. The blood cells include .....
|