Erythrocytes, erythrocytes or red blood cells represent more than 70% of cells in the bloodstream of human beings, have a flattened disc shape in the biconcave center, and their main function is the transport of 0? and CO? throughout the body. Erythrocytes can measure from 5 to 7.5 micrometers in diameter.
This gas exchange is due to the fact that the erythrocytes collect oxygen, and carry it to the tissues through hemoglobin, then they remove the carbon dioxide that the tissues expel and take it to the lungs, and the cycle is repeated again.
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin acts as a source of exchange and transport, in addition to giving a peculiar red pigmentation to erythrocytes, hematology also serves as a transport for gas exchange in the lung alveoli, carrying deoxygenated blood, completing an oxygenation cycle and then being distributed throughout the tissues of the human body.
Alternative
Protein characteristic for its reddish color, it weighs about 64.000 molar mass, and is responsible for transporting oxygen through erythrocytes, it is composed of globin or protein that can denature it due to the oxidizing action and the prosthetic group that Its function is the union and at the same time the transport of oxygen, as long as it is not oxidized to trivalent iron, because in this way it will not be able to transport it.
Normal values
This can vary depending on gender and age, but common values ​​in adults are:
- In women: 14 grams per deciliter
- In men: 12 grams per deciliter
Erythrocytes and their functions
- Transport of oxygen through all blood tissues.
- It is made up of hemoglobin and the cell membrane, and is responsible for maintaining them with enzymes.
- They live approximately 120 days due to their structural integrity and supply the bloodstream with millions of erythrocytes daily, but he is able to control their number so as not to stop the bloodstream.
- Does it also comply with the CO elimination system? and proteins, in the blood system.
- It is capable of establishing what blood group a person has.
- It transports ions in a regulated manner, it also synthesizes adenosine triphosphate and this in turn allows the erythrocyte to maintain its shape.
- It acts as a buffer for fatty acids.
- Its formation is due to its considerable cytoskeletal component.
- It reduces hemoglobin iron and thus hemoglobin is able to require molecular oxygen.
- Optimizes the amount of hemoglobin.
How are erythrocytes made up?
The membrane that makes up this, represents 1% of its total weight, is what allows it to be so flexible when they flow through the bloodstream, with a slippery exterior it is capable of withstanding its variations, so it is important mention its components:
| Carbohydrates | 8% |
| Lipids | 40% |
| Proteins | 50% |
Normal values ​​of erythrocytes
Through a count, the number of erythrocytes or red blood cells in the bloodstream can be determined. This is carried out by extracting a blood sample. It is important to mention the normal values ​​of red blood cells according to sex and age.
| Man | Women | Kids | Newly born |
| From 4.2 to 5.4 million per cubic millimeters of blood | From 4.5 to 6.1 million per cubic millimeters of blood | From 3.8 to 5.4 million per cubic millimeters of blood | Precisely 5.9 million per cubic millimeters of blood |
Although there are several factors that can alter this value such as stress, illness, sex and age, it is important to follow this table of normal values, and if for any reason the limits are exceeded, it is advisable to go to the doctor to find out what is wrong. going.
The names of the tests that determine these results are:
- Red blood cell calculations.
- Erythrocyte calculations.
- Red blood cell stones due to anemia.
What can happen if you have a deficiency in erythrocytes?
Erythrocytes, in addition to being in charge of transporting oxygen throughout our body, when there is a diagnosis of some type of deficiency in red blood cells, it is a cause for concern, since with this usually come questions such as, what would be the diseases capable of of suffering and the risks they would entail. Of which the most relevant will be mentioned:
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma: Considered a type of cancer, it is characterized by damaging all the defenses of the blood system (white blood cells), thus producing a very peculiar characteristic in the blood, which consists of a thickness that does not allow the erythrocytes to be transported in order to carry out the exchange. gaseous, little by little the blood volume is lost and the person tends to suffer from other series of pathologies such as severe anemia, boiling syndrome, alteration in blood coagulation. If the disease is treated in time, patients can overcome it until they achieve total improvement.
Marchiafava-Micheli syndrome: Intertwined with the The individual who carries this disease develops serious symptoms such as:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Headache
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
- Abdominal and chest pain
- Fatigue and tiredness
Alport syndrome: this It directly affects the blood vessels, damaging them completely, resulting in a deficit in the development of erythrocytes and their transport through the bloodstream. It is also considered a genetic disease characterized by inflammation of the kidney, that is, diagnosed nephritis. . And it is classified according to the individual's condition and as well as their sex.
| X-linked | Autosomal Recessive | Autosomal Dominant |
| It affects men more than women. | Affects men and women | It affects women and men in the same way as recessive |