Erythrocytes/Erythrocyte cycle and blood proteins Flashcards
Function
Gas exchange, waste removal
Shape
Biconcave
Surface area
High SA to volume ratio, so that O2 can rapidly defuse
Size
7 micrometers
Features
No organelles or nucleus
Hemoglobin function
To allow for CO2 and O2 to reversibly combine.
Oxyhemoglobin
Oxygenated hemoglobin
Carbaminohemoglobin
Carbonated hemoglobin
What does oxygen bind to?
Fe2+ (Iron)
Average oxygen concentration in Women
14g/ml
Average oxygen concentration in men
15g/ml
Red bone marrow function
Site of erythrocyte production
Erythrocyte precursors function
Produce hemoglobin before losing organelles and nucleus
Reticulocyte
Young erythrocytes with few ribosomes. They appear web like
Erythrocyte life span
120 days, 1% destroyed daily
Erythrocyte reproduction
Erythrocytes cannot undergo mitosis.
Erythrocyte disposal
They are broken down in the spleen and liver. Iron is released.
Bilirubin production
Major byproduct of hemoglobin, returns to circulation and into plasma, making it yellow
Iron function
Binds to O2
Iron production
Homeostatic, happens in the intestinal epithelium where it is absorbed from food
Ferritin
Protein that binds iron to the liver, allowing it to be transported to the spleen to be broken down
Transferrin
Transport protein that binds to iron, transporting almost all of it back to the bone marrow for new erythrocytes
Folic acid
Required for synthesis of nucleotide base thymine.
Vitamin B12
Is required to start folic acid synthesis.
