Erythrocytes Flashcards

1
Q

What shape are red blood cells?

A

Biconcave disc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Which organelles do red blood cells lack?

A

Nucleus

Mitochondria

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the proteins of the red blood cell membrane?

A

Spectrin

Ankyrin

Band 3, AE

Protein 4.2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does spectrin do?

A

Links plasma membrane to actin cytoskeleton

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does ankyrin do?

A

Links integral membrane proteins to spectrin-actin cytoskeleton

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does band 3, AE do?

A

Extrudes bicarbonate ions

Influx of chloride ions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What does protein 4.2 do?

A

Binds ATP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the proteins in the red blood cell membrane essential for?

A

Maintaining biconcave shape of red blood cell

Maintaing flexibility of membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the functions of red blood cells?

A

Carry haemaglobin

Generate ATP

Maintain osmotic equilibrium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the state of haemaglobin in red blood cells?

A

Ferrous state - Fe2+

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the function of haemaglobin in red blood cells?

A

Carry oxygen to tissues

Carry carbon dioxide away from tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How are red blood cells adapted to their function?

A

Large SA:volume ratio

Flexible membrane

Lots of space for haemaglobin, oxygen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How is a large SA:volume ratio advantagous to red blood cells?

A

Increased rate of gas exchange

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How is a flexible membrane advantagous to red blood cells?

A

Allows them to deform

so they can pass through narrow capillaries easier

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the main metabolic pathways in red blood cells? What are the significant products?

A

Glycolysis
produces lactate, ATP

Pentose phosphate pathway
produces NADPH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What detects pO2 of the blood?

A

Interstitial peritubular cells in kidney

17
Q

What can cause low pO2?

A

Decreased red blood cell count

Decreased amount of haemaglobin

Decreased availability of O2

18
Q

What happens in response to low pO2

A

Kidneys secrete erythropoietin hormone

19
Q

What does erythropoietin do?

A

Stimulates maturation and release of red blood cells from bone marrow