Red Blood Cells Structure
The structure of RBCs is as follows:
- The red blood cells are biconcave and disc-shaped i.e. they are round like a disc with depression in the centre.
- They lack nuclei and many other functional cell organelles. This feature allows them maximum space to carry haemoglobin.
- Red blood cells have a flexible cell membrane that allows them to fold or bend to pass through narrow blood vessels.
- They have certain enzymes like carbonic anhydrase and some cytoskeletal proteins like actin other than the haemoglobin in their cell cytoplasm.
- Biconcave shape provides a large surface area-to-volume ratio helping in efficient oxygen transport.
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