Language
Country/Area
No result found
The surprising secret of red blood cells: Did you know how they carry oxygen?
Blood is an important fluid found throughout the circulatory systems of humans and other vertebrates. It carries the important task of transporting essential substances such as nutrients and oxygen to cells, while also taking away waste products produced by metabolism. This blood consists of blood cells suspended in plasma. Plasma accounts for 55% of blood, and is mostly composed of water (92%). It also contains proteins, glucose, mineral ions, hormones and other components. Blood cells, on the other hand, mainly include red blood cells (erythrocytes), leukocytes (white blood cells), and (in mammals) platelets (platelets). Among them, red blood cells are the most abundant cells because the heme they contain makes oxygen transport more efficient.
“Heme promotes oxygen transport through reversible binding, greatly improving the solubility of oxygen.”
The main function of red blood cells is to carry oxygen because their heme can combine with oxygen to form blood oxygen compounds. When an animal inhales air, arterial blood carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues, and venous blood carries carbon dioxide, a metabolic waste product, back from the tissues to the lungs for exhalation. It is worth noting that blood has different colors in its oxygenated and deoxygenated states, which is caused by the change in the chemical state of heme.
How do red blood cells obtain and release oxygen?
About 98.5% of the oxygen in the arterial blood of a healthy adult is chemically bound to heme, and only about 1.5% of the oxygen is physically dissolved in the blood. The structure of heme allows it to effectively exhibit the "exhale-inhale" mechanism. During this process, inhaled oxygen enters the blood through the alveoli and is quickly taken up by red blood cells. As blood travels to different cells throughout the body, heme releases bound oxygen according to oxygen demand.
"In a healthy adult at rest, when blood leaves the lungs, the oxygen saturation of heme is approximately 98% to 99%."
When performing high-level physical exercise in the body, oxygen consumption will increase significantly. At this time, the oxygen saturation in the arterial blood may decrease, and the oxygen storage in the venous blood will also decrease. This process will vary depending on the intensity and duration of exercise. Therefore, with continued exercise, the body's oxygen demand will be further increased.
Transportation of carbon dioxide
Similar to the transport of oxygen, carbon dioxide in the blood also has up to three different transport modes. About 70% of the carbon dioxide is converted into bicarbonate ions. This process is catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase in red blood cells. Another part of carbon dioxide is physically dissolved in the plasma, while the remaining approximately 23% is bound to heme in the form of carbon amino compounds. The precision of this operation also allows us to understand the interaction between carbon dioxide and oxygen, and shows that when the concentration of carbon dioxide in the body increases or the pH decreases, the efficiency of oxygen release from heme is affected.
The relationship between blood and body temperature
Blood also plays an important role in body temperature regulation. When the outside climate warms or high-intensity exercise occurs, blood flows to the surface of the body, helping to dissipate heat. In a cold environment, blood is preferentially transported to the body's internal organs to maintain the stability of core body temperature.
Abnormalities of red blood cells
Abnormal functions of red blood cells will lead to a variety of health problems. For example, anemia, leukemia and other diseases will affect the production or function of red blood cells. Anemia is caused by an insufficient number or poor function of red blood cells, which can lead to insufficient oxygen supply, leading to the development of symptoms such as fatigue and lethargy. Testing for this condition usually involves a blood test to confirm the condition of the red blood cells.
"In healthy adults, the normal number of red blood cells is approximately 4.7 million to 6.1 million (men) and 4.2 million to 5.4 million (women)."
Therefore, it is crucial for our health to understand the function of these red blood cells and how they work within the body. This not only allows us to better understand our own physiological state, but also helps us obtain better information for prevention and treatment.
To ensure that our red blood cells can effectively carry oxygen, what dietary or lifestyle habits do you think we need to pay attention to in our daily lives?
