Describe the structure, function, and life history of red blood cells?

Question

Need help on my biology homework.

 

Answer 1

Describe the structure, function, and life history of red blood cells? Sorry I join late I'm new to the blog.

Structure and function of RBC critical to understand: Think and read briefly about Sickle Cell Anemia (sickle shaped) and other RBC disease conditions would include; Hereditary Spherocytosis (ball shaped), or Sideroblastic Anemia (RBC too small).  

Shape or anatomy of the RBC determines function! Know this fact and don't forget it; normal RBC's are BI-CONCAVED (go look it up and find pictures and let it burn into your memory!)

Why is the term BICONCAVE important to RBC's? Undulations (like pictures of the lock ness monster) creates increased SURFACE area so as to expose the RBC membrane to larger quantities of O₂ absorption and CO₂ expulsion (gas exchange). If the BI-CONCAVITY shape is lost, gas exchange is decreased and the organs in the body start to complain (heart-chest pain, lungs-fatigue, brain-can't think).

Contents of RBC's: see Naina B. great summary. Also Hemoglobin equals Heme: Iron in Ferrous form (just like in your vitamins or Iron is a sword) and Globin: is a globular protein (DETAILS not necessary: critical defect in Sickle Cell Anemia-switch between the amino acid Valine and Glutamic Acid by way of a DNA point mutation which changes the normal shape of Hemoglobin also resulting in decreased affinity or attractiveness of O₂ and again the body organs complain).

Life History of RBC's: exist for approximately 120 days (4 months). RBC's are "born" or created in the red bone marrow of long bones (scapular, femur, humerus, some in the skull and scapula). RBC's "die" or are re-cycled in the Spleen (breaks the cell membrane down, and the protein globin is separated into its building blocks-peptides and amino acids and finally Heme).

Answer 2

Hi Ryan,

 

      Red blood cells or erythrocytes are different from other cells of the body because they lack nucleus and most cell organelles.

 

      They have special cytoplasm that is rich in hemoglobin and therefore they are red in color.

 

      RBC or erythrocytes have special function in purification of toxic waste from our body, they carry oxygen and provide oxygen to other cells for cellular functions. They carry back carbon dioxide from cells; it is the toxic product of cellular respiration.

 

     I hope this helps, please post if you need additional information.