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To transport oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the body's cells, what do erythrocytes need?

Select one:
a. bilirubin
b. nitrates
c. hematocrit
d. sodium chloride
e. hemoglobin
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User Ralight
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, require hemoglobin to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide between the body's cells and the lungs. Option e is ocrrect.

Step-by-step explanation:

To transport oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the body's cells, erythrocytes need hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a metalloprotein that is capable of binding to oxygen molecules and carbon dioxide. Each molecule of hemoglobin can bind up to four molecules of oxygen, creating oxyhemoglobin, which is responsible for the bright red color of oxygenated blood.

Heme, the component of hemoglobin that contains iron, binds oxygen to the erythrocyte. Hemoglobin also plays a role in the transport of carbon dioxide, either as dissolved carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, or carbaminohemoglobin, which forms when carbon dioxide binds directly to hemoglobin.

User Pva
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