Final answer:
Red blood cells transport oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, while white blood cells protect the body from infections. The hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve shows how readily hemoglobin binds and releases oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
Functions of Different Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells (RBCs): Transport oxygen to body tissues and remove carbon dioxide.
White Blood Cells (WBCs): Protect the body from infections and foreign substances. They can be classified as granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) or agranulocytes (lymphocytes and monocytes).
Hemoglobin-Oxygen Dissociation Curve
The hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve shows the relationship between the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) and the saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen. It represents how readily hemoglobin binds to and releases oxygen. The curve is sigmoidal, meaning that hemoglobin has a higher affinity for oxygen when the pO2 is high (such as in the lungs) and a lower affinity when the pO2 is low (such as in body tissues).