Question

Describe the structure and contents of an erythrocyte. How are they different from a normal cell?

Answer 1

Answer :

* Erythrocytes - Red Blood Cells

* The structure of the erythrocytes are as follows

• Biconcave disc / Flexible oval disc with no nucleus with size of 7.5 micrometres.

• Shape occur when nucleus is lost

• Gives maximum surface area for gas exchange

• Gives flexibility for navigating through small spaces

• Allows some shape change in fluctuating concentration.

Contents of the erythrocytes:

* Mainly it contains hemoglobin (250 million hemoglobin molecule to be specific)

* Hemoglobin molecule contains four globin proteins bound to a pigment molecule called Heme which contains an ion of iron.

* In addition its composed of lipids and proteins.

How erythrocytes are different from the normal cells?

* The erythrocytes lack nucleus and they are in size of 7.5 micrometres (The nucleus and also most of the organelles get's extruded as the erythrocytes gets matured)

* It can easily change it shape unlike other cells that helps it easily fit through various blood vessels in the body.

* These cells appears Red because they contain the pigments called hemoglobin.