Question

How are red blood cells adapted to contain as

much haemoglobin as possible?
(Middle School)

Answer 1

Contributing causes of a high red blood cell count include smoking, living at high altitude, taking performance-enhancing drugs (anabolic steroids), dehydration, and medical conditions of heart or lung disease.

Answer 2

Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, are adapted to contain as much hemoglobin as possible, which is the protein that binds to oxygen and carries it to the body's tissues.

• Biconcave shape: The biconcave shape of red blood cells increases the surface area to volume ratio, allowing for more hemoglobin to be packed into each cell.
• No nucleus: Red blood cells do not have a nucleus, which allows for more space for hemoglobin.
• Flexibility: Red blood cells are flexible and can change shape to squeeze through narrow capillaries, maximizing the amount of hemoglobin that can be delivered to the body's tissues.
• Short lifespan: Red blood cells have a short lifespan of about 120 days, after which they are removed from the body. This short lifespan allows for a continuous turnover of new cells with fresh hemoglobin.