The nursing instructor is teaching her clinical group about laboratory blood tests. What is the major function of erythrocytes?
A) Act as mediators for the immune system
B) Destroy invading organisms
C) Transportation of O2 to the tissues and removal of CO2 from the tissues
D) Oxygenation of the brain
C
Feedback:
Erythrocytes (or RBCs) are flexible, anuclear (lacking a nucleus), biconcave disks covered by a thin membrane through which oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) pass freely. The flexibility of erythrocytes allows them to change shape as they travel through capillaries. Their major function is to transport O2 to and remove CO2 from the tissues. The RBCs are not involved in immunological functions, so choices A and B are not correct. Oxygenation of the brain is important but that is not a major function of RBCs.
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