Myocardial Infarction : New Study
Red blood cells exposed to oxygen deficiency protect against myocardial infarction (heart attack), according to a new study.
- Red Blood Cells (RBCs) are one of the components of blood. (The others are plasma, platelets and white blood cells.)
- They deliver oxygen to the tissues throughout the human body.
- Oxygen turns into energy, and tissues release carbon dioxide.
- RBCs also transport carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled.
- RBCs made are made in the bone marrow.
- They typically live for about 120 days, and then they die.
- RBCs contain a protein called haemoglobin, which binds to oxygen in the lungs, forming oxyhemoglobin.
- Haemoglobin also helps carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs as carbaminohemoglobin.
- RBCs are biconcave, disc-shaped cells with a dimple in the centre on both sides. This unique shape increases the surface area of the cell, allowing for efficient gas exchange.
- It is covered with a membrane composed of lipids and proteins and lacks a nucleus.
