RBCs - Structure, Function, Life Span and Destruction

Question 1

mature red blood cells (erythrocytes) are highly specialized cells that lack what

Answer 1

nucleus
mitochondria
ribosomes

Question 2

when viewed microscopically, mature RBCs appear how

Answer 2

non nucleated and biconcave discs

Question 3

what do erythrocytes utilize from plasma for energy

Answer 3

glucose

Question 4

three main functions of RBCs

Answer 4

transporting oxygen to tissues
transporting carbon dioxide to the lungs
maintaining cell shape and deformability

Question 5

what allows RBCs to transport oxygen to tissues

Answer 5

hemoglobin

Question 6

allows RBCs to change shape to travel through the various blood vessels in the body

Answer 6

deformibility

Question 7

normal life span of RBC in:

dogs
cats
horse and sheep
cows
mice

Answer 7

dogs = 120 days
cats = 68 days
horse and sheep = 150 days
cows = 160 days
mice = 20 to 30 days

Question 8

the process of aging

Answer 8

senescence

Question 9

as red blood cells senescence, enzyme activity decreases and what happens to cell membrane

Answer 9

loses its deformability

Question 10

hemolysis

Answer 10

destruction of red blood cells

Question 11

two ways that hemolysis happens

Answer 11

extra vascular and intra vascular

Question 12

90% of hemolysis happens by what

Answer 12

extravascular hemolysis

Question 13

where does extravascular hemolysis take place

Answer 13

outside the cardiovascular system

Question 14

in extravascular hemolysis, RBCs are removed from circulation by macrophages located where

Answer 14

the spleen

Question 15

In extravascular hemolysis, hemoglobin is released and degraded into what

Answer 15

amino acids, iron and heme

Question 16

during extravascular hemolysis, amino acids are returned to where - to be used to build more proteins

Answer 16

liver

Question 17

in extravascular hemolysis iron is transported where - to be recycled to make new red blood cells

Answer 17

bone marrow

Question 18

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

Answer 18

bilirubin

Question 19

conjugated bilirubin is converted to what

Answer 19

urobilinogen

Question 20

urobilinogen is excreted in urine as what

Answer 20

urobilin

Question 21

about 10% of hemolysis takes place where

Answer 21

intravascular hemolysis

Question 22

where does intravascular hemolysis take place

Answer 22

within blood vessels

Question 23

when red blood cell membranes rupture within a vessel, where is hemoglobin released to

Answer 23

into the bloodstream

Question 24

what is created after hemoglobin binds to protein in plasma

Answer 24

haptoglobin

Question 25

the hemoglobin haptoglobin complex travels to macrophages where, for further breakdown

Answer 25

the liver

Question 26

what is excess unconjugated hemoglobin called

Answer 26

hemoglobinemia

Question 27

the process of hemoglobinemia being carried to the kidneys are eliminated in urine

Answer 27

hemoglobinuria