Skip to main content
Biology

Return to Question

spelling
Source Link
SANBI samples
SANBI samples
  • 519
  • 4
  • 21

According to this author, red blood cells (RBCs) are biconcave to allow easier bending. The standard explanation in biology for higher surface area to volume ratios is that it improves reaction rates. When a RBC squeezes through narrow veins I imagine that it gets deformed. Considering that a RBC's function is to exchange oxygen in narrow capillaries, I was wondering whether it is appropriate to reasonsreason that the bi-concavebiconcave shape promotes gas exchange. So what is the SA:V of a biconcave RBC and by how much does the SA:V change depending on where in the body the RBC is traveling?

According to this author, red blood cells (RBCs) are biconcave to allow easier bending. The standard explanation in biology for higher surface area to volume ratios is that it improves reaction rates. When a RBC squeezes through narrow veins I imagine that it gets deformed. Considering that a RBC's function is to exchange oxygen in narrow capillaries, I was wondering whether it is appropriate to reasons that the bi-concave shape promotes gas exchange. So what is the SA:V of a biconcave RBC and by how much does the SA:V change depending on where in the body the RBC is traveling?

According to this author, red blood cells (RBCs) are biconcave to allow easier bending. The standard explanation in biology for higher surface area to volume ratios is that it improves reaction rates. When a RBC squeezes through narrow veins I imagine that it gets deformed. Considering that a RBC's function is to exchange oxygen in narrow capillaries, I was wondering whether it is appropriate to reason that the biconcave shape promotes gas exchange. So what is the SA:V of a biconcave RBC and by how much does the SA:V change depending on where in the body the RBC is traveling?

Source Link
SANBI samples
SANBI samples
  • 519
  • 4
  • 21

What is the surface area to volume (SA:V) ratio of a red blood cell?

According to this author, red blood cells (RBCs) are biconcave to allow easier bending. The standard explanation in biology for higher surface area to volume ratios is that it improves reaction rates. When a RBC squeezes through narrow veins I imagine that it gets deformed. Considering that a RBC's function is to exchange oxygen in narrow capillaries, I was wondering whether it is appropriate to reasons that the bi-concave shape promotes gas exchange. So what is the SA:V of a biconcave RBC and by how much does the SA:V change depending on where in the body the RBC is traveling?