Structure and Function of Normal Red Cells

Question 1

What are the characteristics of a Red Blood Cell?

Answer 1

Full of Hb to carry O2
No nucleus
No mitochondria
Large Surface area to volume ratio
Flexible

Question 2

What is the consequence of RBCs having no nuclei?

Answer 2

Can’t divide or replenish themselves

Question 3

What is the consequence of RBCs having no mitochondria?

Answer 3

They are limited to glycolysis for energy production

Question 4

What is the consequence of the High surface area/volume ratio?

Answer 4

They must have mechanisms to keep water out

Question 5

What helps to maintain ion concentrations?

Answer 5

Na+/K+ pump

Question 6

What is Haemoglobin?

Answer 6

Tetrameric globular protein

Question 7

What subunits are in adult HbA?

Answer 7

2 alpha

2 Beta subunits

Question 8

How many heme are in each subunit of Hb?

Answer 8

1

Question 9

How many O2 can each heme hold?

Answer 9

1 molecule

Question 10

What is the function of haemoglobin?

Answer 10

Delivers oxygen to tissues
Acts as a H+ buffer
Transports CO2

Question 11

What regulates RBC production?

Answer 11

Erythropoieten

Question 12

How long does a red blood cell live for?

Answer 12

120 days

Question 13

Where does red blood cell destruction take place?

Answer 13

Normally occurs in the liver/spleen

Question 14

How are red blood cells destroyed?

Answer 14

Old RBCs are taken up by macrophages

Contents are recycled

Question 15

How are RBC contents recycled?

Answer 15

Heme becomes Iron and Bilirubin

Globin becomes amino acids

Question 16

How does Heme become bilirubin?

Answer 16

Heme > Porphyrin > Biliverdin > Bilirubin

Question 17

What prevents oxidisation of Fe2+ to Fe3+?

Answer 17

NADH

Question 18

Why is Fe3+ not desirable?

Answer 18

It doesnt carry O2

Question 19

How is energy produced for RBCs?

Answer 19

Glycolysis

Question 20

What free radicals can be produced?

Answer 20

O2- (Superoxide)

H202 (Hydrogen peroxide)

Question 21

What can free radicals do?

Answer 21

Interact with other molecules and damage their structure

Question 22

What converts 02- to H202?

Answer 22

Superoxide dismutase

Question 23

What converts H2O2 to H20?

Answer 23

Peroxidases catalase

Glutathione

Question 24

What are the 3 modes of CO2 transport?

Answer 24

Dissolved in solution
Bound to Hb
Bicarbonate

Question 25

What % of Co2 is dissolved in solution?

Answer 25

10%

Question 26

What % of CO2 is bound to Hb?

Answer 26

30%

Question 27

What % of CO2 is transported in bicarbonate?

Answer 27

60%

Question 28

What are 4 requirements for Hb-O2 transport?

Answer 28

1. Collect when pO2 is high 2. Hold on when pO2 drops slightly (In transport) 3. Release when pO2 is low (in tissues) 4. Cope with extra demand

Question 29

What is more easily saturated, HbF or HbA?

Answer 29

HbF

Question 30

What shifts the oxygen dissociation curve to the left?

Answer 30

Increased pH Decreased DPH Decreased temperature

Question 31

What shifts the oxygen dissociation curve to the right?

Answer 31

Decreased pH Increased DPH Increased temperature

Question 32

Whats this? A Joanne McEwan using My Flashcards?

Answer 32

Ofcourse it is | I can tell