Final answer:
When a red blood cell ruptures due to swelling beyond the plasma membrane's capacity, the process is known as hemolysis and the resulting fragments are called schistocytes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a red blood cell (RBC) ruptures, this event is known as hemolysis. Once the cell swells to the point that the membrane can no longer contain it, the red blood cell bursts. The plasma membrane of these cells is comprised of lipids and proteins and is described as a mosaic. The pieces that result from a red blood cell rupturing are referred to as schistocytes or blood cell fragments.
Several conditions can lead to hemolysis, such as placing red blood cells in a hypotonic solution where water rushes into the cell, causing it to swell and burst. Other causes include the destruction of red blood cells by complement and antibody during a transfusion of mismatched blood type or during conditions such as erythroblastosis fetalis.