Features of Red Blood Cells
The following are some of the characteristic features of the RBC:
- They have a biconcave, disc-shaped appearance.
- The biconcave shape of the RBC provides a maximum surface-to-volume ratio for efficient transport of oxygen.
- They contain haemoglobin that binds with oxygen to facilitate its transport throughout the body.
- The red colour of blood is due to the iron-containing heme group group of the haemoglobin.
- The normal count of RBC in the human body is 4.5 to 6.5 million cells per microliter of blood in males and 4.0 to 5.5 million cells per microliter of blood in females.
- They eject out their nucleus and other cell organelles (the process of enucleation) during their developmental phase in bone marrow.
- As they lack mitochondria the RBCs depend only on glycolysis for energy generation.
- They are highly flexible cells to ensure movement through narrow passages of the blood vessels.
- After their destruction, the broken components of the RBCs are used again for the synthesis of new RBCs.
- They also help in the transport of carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs.
Red Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells are responsible for the transport of oxygen throughout the body. They are one of the three main classes of blood cells, the other two are white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells are named so because they contain the iron-containing protein called the haemoglobin which imparts the characteristic red colour to the cells.
They are present in the highest numbers in the blood. This is why they are responsible for the characteristic red colour of the blood. In this article, we will look into the diagram of red blood cells, structure, and function in detail.
Table of Content
- What are Red Blood Cells?
- Diagram of Red Blood Cells
- Red Blood Cells Structure
- Features of Red Blood Cells
- Functions of Red Blood Cells
- Factors Affecting the Function of RBC