CH 17 RBC Morphology
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Transcript CH 17 RBC Morphology
CH 17 – RBC Morphology
Erythrocytes
>99% of the formed elements
function to carry O2, CO2 & H+
anatomy
biconcave disks, 8 µm in
diameter
no nucleus
limited metabolic activity
~280 million hemoglobin (Hgb)
molecules/cell
O2 carrying protein
synthesized in cytosol
before the nucleus is lost
33% of cell weight
Erythrocytes
Bi-Concave disc shape
creates a higher surface
area/volume ratio increases gas
diffusion
very flexible structure allows
passage through capillaries
the smallest capillaries are no
wider than an RBC
Erythrocytes
Normal Hgb in blood
Infants: 14-20g
Hgb/100ml
Adults:
Males: 14-15g Hgb
/100ml
Females: 12-15g
Hgb /100 ml
RBC’s (Electron Microscopy)
electron microscopy
Hemoglobin
Structure
O2 combines with Hgb in lungs
O2 not very soluble in H2O
O2 needs a molecular transporter to carry it
Hemoglobin
4 globin (protein) chains - 2 α chains & 2 β chains
4 non-protein heme pigments (lipid)
each heme pigment has iron ion (Fe²+) that carries 1 O2
each RBC can carry about 1 billion O2 molecules
RBC's carry ~25% of the CO2 bound to Hgb - forms
carbaminohemoglobin
Erythrocyte (RBC) Life Span
Life span
only 100-120 days
cannot repair damage due to loss of nucleus, ribosomes
Old RBC’s destroyed in the spleen, liver and the bone marrow
Macrophages phagocytize old worn RBC's
Breakdown products are recycled
Different pathways exist for each part of the Hgb molecule
globin chains - AA's used for other protein synthesis
heme
•
•
iron portion - Fe2+ recycled
non-iron lipid portion – converted to bilirubin - waste
– released into blood, secreted by the liver into bile
– bile enters intestine, is converted to urobilinogen by bacteria
– contributes to urine & feces color
RBC Life Span
End
RBC Morphology
CH 17