RBCs - Structure, Function, Life Span and Destruction Flashcards
mature red blood cells (erythrocytes) are highly specialized cells that lack what
nucleus
mitochondria
ribosomes
when viewed microscopically, mature RBCs appear how
non nucleated and biconcave discs
what do erythrocytes utilize from plasma for energy
glucose
three main functions of RBCs
transporting oxygen to tissues
transporting carbon dioxide to the lungs
maintaining cell shape and deformability
what allows RBCs to transport oxygen to tissues
hemoglobin
allows RBCs to change shape to travel through the various blood vessels in the body
deformibility
normal life span of RBC in:
dogs
cats
horse and sheep
cows
mice
dogs = 120 days
cats = 68 days
horse and sheep = 150 days
cows = 160 days
mice = 20 to 30 days
the process of aging
senescence
as red blood cells senescence, enzyme activity decreases and what happens to cell membrane
loses its deformability
hemolysis
destruction of red blood cells
two ways that hemolysis happens
extra vascular and intra vascular
90% of hemolysis happens by what
extravascular hemolysis
where does extravascular hemolysis take place
outside the cardiovascular system
in extravascular hemolysis, RBCs are removed from circulation by macrophages located where
the spleen
In extravascular hemolysis, hemoglobin is released and degraded into what
amino acids, iron and heme
during extravascular hemolysis, amino acids are returned to where - to be used to build more proteins
liver
in extravascular hemolysis iron is transported where - to be recycled to make new red blood cells
bone marrow
during extravascular hemolysis, heme is further broken down into free or unconjugated __________, and will attach to the plasma protein albumin and will be transported to the liver
bilirubin
conjugated bilirubin is converted to what
urobilinogen
urobilinogen is excreted in urine as what
urobilin
about 10% of hemolysis takes place where
intravascular hemolysis
where does intravascular hemolysis take place
within blood vessels
when red blood cell membranes rupture within a vessel, where is hemoglobin released to
into the bloodstream
what is created after hemoglobin binds to protein in plasma
haptoglobin
the hemoglobin haptoglobin complex travels to macrophages where, for further breakdown
the liver
what is excess unconjugated hemoglobin called
hemoglobinemia
the process of hemoglobinemia being carried to the kidneys are eliminated in urine
hemoglobinuria
