Final answer:
Hemolysis is the rupture of red blood cells leading to the release of hemoglobin into the bloodstream. It is often caused by diseases like sickle-cell or lupus, or by external factors such as hypotonic environments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rupturing of red blood cells (RBCs) and the release of their contents into the bloodstream is known as hemolysis. This process can occur due to various factors, including the presence of specific diseases such as sickle-cell disease and lupus erythematosus, or as a result of external conditions like being placed in a hypotonic solution, which causes the RBCs to swell and burst. When hemolysis occurs after blood transfusion with mismatched blood types or during hemolytic disease of the newborn, it can lead to severe complications such as kidney failure due to the hemoglobin damaging the tubules. Additionally, in conditions where erythrocytes lack energy due to impaired ATP production, swelling and lysis of RBCs result, increasing plasma bilirubin and potentially leading to jaundice and hemolytic anemia.