Red Blood Cells Flashcards
What is the average diameter of a red blood cell?
Approximately 7.5 micrometers.
True or False: Red blood cells are typically biconcave in shape.
True.
What is the primary function of red blood cells?
To transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.
Fill in the blank: The shape of red blood cells allows for increased __________.
Surface area for gas exchange.
What is the typical lifespan of a red blood cell?
About 120 days.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of red blood cells? A) Lack of nucleus B) Biconcave shape C) Ability to divide D) Flexible membrane
C) Ability to divide.
What is the term for the process by which red blood cells are formed?
Erythropoiesis.
True or False: Red blood cells can change shape as they pass through capillaries.
True.
What protein is primarily responsible for oxygen transport in red blood cells?
Hemoglobin.
Fill in the blank: Red blood cells are produced in the __________.
Bone marrow.
Multiple Choice: Which condition is characterized by a reduced number of red blood cells? A) Anemia B) Erythrocytosis C) Leukemia D) Thrombocytopenia
A) Anemia.
What shape do red blood cells take when they are dehydrated?
Spiculated or echinocyte shape.
True or False: Red blood cells have a high affinity for carbon dioxide.
True.
What role do red blood cells play in maintaining blood pH?
They help buffer the blood through the bicarbonate buffer system.
Fill in the blank: The flexible membrane of red blood cells allows them to __________.
Deform and squeeze through narrow capillaries.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following best describes the shape of a red blood cell? A) Spherical B) Biconvex C) Biconcave D) Cylindrical
C) Biconcave.
What is the effect of altitude on red blood cell production?
Increased altitude stimulates erythropoietin production, leading to increased red blood cell production.
True or False: Red blood cells contain mitochondria.
False.
What is the significance of the biconcave shape of red blood cells?
It maximizes surface area for gas exchange and allows flexibility.
Fill in the blank: The primary component of red blood cell membranes that contributes to their flexibility is __________.
Spectrin.
Multiple Choice: What happens to red blood cells in a hypertonic solution? A) They swell B) They shrink C) They burst D) No change
B) They shrink.
What is the role of erythropoietin in red blood cell production?
It stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
True or False: The average volume of a red blood cell is known as mean corpuscular volume (MCV).
True.
What is the typical MCV range for red blood cells?
80 to 100 femtoliters.