(1 point)
Oxygen is carried by the ______________, which is part of the red blood cell.
Oxygen is carried by the hemoglobin, which is part of the red blood cell.
Oxygen is carried by the protein called hemoglobin, which is part of the red blood cell.
To find the answer to this question, we can start by understanding the components of blood. Blood is composed of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), plasma, and platelets.
The component responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood is the red blood cell. However, oxygen does not actually bind directly to the red blood cell itself. Instead, it binds to a molecule called hemoglobin, which is found inside the red blood cells.
Hemoglobin is a protein that contains iron, and it has a high affinity for oxygen. When oxygen is inhaled into the lungs, it enters the bloodstream and binds to the hemoglobin molecules within the red blood cells. This forms a complex called oxyhemoglobin.
As the oxygen-rich blood is pumped through the body, the oxyhemoglobin releases oxygen to the tissues that need it. This exchange of oxygen between the red blood cells and the body's tissues is what allows oxygen to be transported throughout the body.