Erythrocytes

What are the components of blood

red blood cells (erythrocytes)

platelets

white blood cells

plasma

Functions of erythrocytes

Transporting oxygen to tissues

Transporting of carbon dioxide to lungs

Transporting nutrients to tissues

Transporting waste products to proper filtering organs

Transporting hormones to and from hormone producing organs

Dispersing heat

Delivering immune cells to areas they are needed

Maintains the body’s fluid balance and pH level

Erythrocyte characteristics

biconcave discoid (in most species) cells

central pallor or paleness

made up of: hemoglobin, stroma, water

Advantages of biconcave discoid cells

larger surface area:volume ratio

minimal diffusion distance

greater osmotic swelling possible without threatening integrity of membrane

Heme

a molecule that contains rion

each contains 1 iron atom that combines to oxygen

Globin

protein component

made up of 4 polypeptide chains

Each hemoglobin has ____ heme groups to ___ globin

4

1

(4:1 ratio)

Myoglobin

specialized hemoglobin found in muscle

has only 1 peptide chain and 1 heme group

Methemoglobin

stable oxidized form of hemoglobin, unable to release oxygen to tissues

ferrous iron of heme is oxidized to ferric state

Hemoglobin has an affinity for carbon monoxide _____ that of oxygen and is called ______

200x

carbonmonoxyhemoglobin

Other shapes of erythrocytes

Poikilocytosis

Echinocytes

Acanthocytes

Schistocytes

Spherocytes

Codocytes

Poikilocytosis

Catchall term for abnormally shaped RBCs

Mostly associated with:

○ Liver disease

○ Disseminated intravascular coagulation

(DIC)

○ Glomerulonephritis

(inflammation/infection in kidneys)

○ Malignant hemangiosarcoma

Echinocytes

Also known as crenated erythrocytes

Type of spiculated (spikey) RBCs

Numerous, evenly distributed, similarly

sized projections from cell body

Can also be seen with:

○ Lymphoma

○ Mast cell tumors

○ Snake envenomation

○ Glomerulonephritis

Acanthocytes