BI SC 004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 34: Malnutrition, Hemolytic Anemia, Intrinsic Factor
Document Summary
The structure of red blood cells is important for their function. Their biconcave shape increases surface area for gas exchange. Each rbc contains about 280 billion hemoglobin molecules: bind molecules of o2. 7% as carbon dioxide in the plasma. 23% bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells. 70% as a bicarbonate ion in the plasma: this conversion takes place in rbcs. They are produced in the red bone marrow. Old cells are destroyed by the: liver, spleen. Erythropoietin (epo: secreted by kidney cells, moves to red marrow when oxygen levels are low. A measure of the % of rbcs in the blood. Different in men and women: female hematocrit levels: 35 45% (+ 4%: male hematocrit levels: Athletes tend to have higher values due to: More muscle mass/weight than women in general. It is any method of increasing the number of rbcs to increase athletic performance. It allows: more efficient delivery of oxygen, reduces fatigue.
