1.2 erythrocytes

A&P2: exam 1

what are erythrocytes?

RBCs

what are erythrocytes shaped like?

pepto bismol pills (biconcave disc)

what is the function of erythrocytes?

transporting O2

what is O2 transported in?

hemoglobin

what is hemoglobin?

a protein that transports O2

what does erythropoiesis get rid of?

most organelles

why does erythropoiesis strip RBCs of organelles?

to focus on one function (transporting gases)

what is hemoglobin made of?

heme

what is heme made of?

a molecule/atom of iron

what does the iron do?

allows the oxygen to bind with heme

what is oxyhemoglobin?

hemoglobin bound with O2 (HbO2)

what color is oxyhemoglobin?

bright red

what is deoxyhemoglobin?

hemoglobin without O2

what color is deoxyhemoglobin?

dark red

why are veins blue?

because of light reflection

what is erythropoiesis?

the formation of erythrocytes

where does erythropoiesis occur?

red bone marrow (of spongy bone)

what percent of RBCs are replaced daily?

1% (25 billion per day)

how long do erythrocytes last?

~120 days

where do erythrocytes pick up O2?

lungs

where do erythrocytes drop off O2?

tissues

what are the 2 ways erythrocytes can die?

hemolysis or recycled

what is hemolysis?

plasma membrane ruptures; internal contents spew into blood

what happens during erythrocyte recycling?

cycles break and open them and recycles the contents

what do cell contents get recycled into?

1. carbs, lipids, proteins, electrolytes: turned into new cells

2. iron (from hemoglobin): released into blood and reused

3. heme (from hemoglobin): chemically digested and excreted

what creates color?

hemoglobin and byproducts

what happens to heme when digested?

turns into bilirubin

where is bilirubin absorbed?

in the liver

what color is bilirubin?

yellow

what color is bile?

green

what breaks down bilirubin?

bacteria

what is present in feces and urine that makes it yellow?

urobilins

what is present in feces that makes it brown?

stercobilins

what is hematuria?

excess RBC hemolysis

what happens during hematuria?

blood is found in urine

what is jaundice?

when whites of eyes/skin tone turns yellow

what causes jaundice?

increased bilirubin

what organ stores bilirubin?

liver

what happens to the liver during jaundice?

cannot keep up with production of bilirubin

where does bilirubin overflow into?

blood

what is anemia?

insufficient RBCs to meet oxygen demand

what are the types of anemia?

iron deficiency, hemolytic, sickle cell, vitamin deficiency

what are the effects of anemia?

low erythrocyte count, low O2 transport, fatigue