50.9k views
1 vote
Human red blood cells contain no internal membranes other than the nuclear membrane.

a) True
b) False

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The claim that human red blood cells have nuclear membranes is false, as mature red blood cells contain no nuclei and are instead primarily filled with hemoglobin for oxygen transport.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement 'Human red blood cells contain no internal membranes other than the nuclear membrane' is false. Mature human red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, actually have no nuclei when they are circulating in the bloodstream. The process of maturation involves the extrusion of the nucleus to optimize the cell for its primary function of transporting oxygen. Human red blood cells are rich in hemoglobin, the protein responsible for oxygen distribution throughout the body.

It is noteworthy to mention that while mammalian red blood cells lack nuclei at maturity, the red blood cells of other vertebrates, such as birds, usually retain their nuclei. Additionally, red blood cells differ from white blood cells in that white blood cells have nuclei and are key components of the immune system, with no role in oxygen transportation.

User C Blanchard
by
7.9k points