Red Blood Cells

What is the function of red blood cells?

To transport oxygen from the lungs to the body and carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs

What are the main specialisations and features of red blood cells?

• Biconcave shape - increases surface area for gas exchange and decreases the distances that the gases need to travel to reach the haemoglobin → more surface area allows more oxygen and carbon dioxide to diffuse across the cell membrane

• No nucleus - gives more space for haemoglobin, (haemoglobin carries oxygen) which therefore enhances oxygen transport

• Small and flexible - can squeeze through narrow capillaries

How does the structure of red blood cells enable them to transport oxygen around the body?

• Red blood cells have a biconcave shape, which increases its surface area, the area available for gas exchange also increases, which allows more oxygen to diffuse into the cell and more carbon dioxide out of the cell

• The cell is very thin, meaning there is a shorter distance that gases have to travel to reach the haemoglobin, making gas exchange more efficient

• No nucleus in the cell means there is more room for haemoglobin (protein responsible for oxygen transport), this increases the cells capacity to carry oxygen

What do red blood cells carry?

Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide