Final answer:
The statement is false because erythrocytes primarily rely on glycolysis, and the majority of glucose they metabolize is through the glycolytic pathway and the Rapaport-Luebering cycle, not 90% as stated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that 10% of glucose is used for the HMP shunt and the remaining 90% is used for glycolysis in erythrocytes is False. Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, rely primarily on glycolysis for their energy needs. The majority of glucose metabolized by erythrocytes is via the glycolytic pathway, where it undergoes a process known as the Rapaport-Luebering cycle.
The Rapaport-Luebering cycle diverts glycolysis to reduce ATP production, which otherwise would be excessive for the erythrocyte and also generates 2,3-diphosphoglycerate, important for hemoglobin function and oxygen delivery. This alternative pathway allows red blood cells, which lack mitochondria and thus cannot perform aerobic respiration, to manage their energy needs efficiently while supporting their role in oxygen transport.