Erythrocytes, structure and function
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Erythrocytes – Structure and Function[edit | edit source]
Structure[edit | edit source]
- Biconcave disc, ~7.5 μm diameter, 2–2.5 μm thickness.
- Central pallor ~1/3 of diameter.
- No nucleus or organelles.
- Cytoplasm rich in hemoglobin (~95% of dry weight).
- Plasma membrane contains spectrin–ankyrin cytoskeleton enabling flexibility.
- ATP produced via anaerobic glycolysis (no mitochondria).
Function[edit | edit source]
- Oxygen transport (Hb–O₂ binding in lungs, release in tissues).
- CO₂ transport (as bicarbonate, carbaminohemoglobin).
- Acid–base buffering (hemoglobin acts as a buffer).
- High deformability allows passage through microvasculature.
Life Cycle[edit | edit source]
- Lifespan: ~120 days.
- Removed by macrophages in spleen, liver, bone marrow.
- Hemoglobin degraded → heme → bilirubin, iron recycled.
Bottom Line Summary[edit | edit source]
Erythrocytes (red blood cells) are anucleate, biconcave cells specialized for oxygen and carbon dioxide transport via hemoglobin. Their shape, membrane composition, and cytoskeletal structure optimize gas exchange and deformability.
References[edit | edit source]
1. Junqueira’s Basic Histology, 16th Ed.
2. Ross & Pawlina – Histology: A Text and Atlas, 8th Ed.
3. Wheater’s Functional Histology, 7th Ed.
