Question How are red blood cells able to move through narrow vessels to carry oxygen throughout a multicellular organism?
They are flexible because they lack a plasma membrane.
They are flexible because they lack a plasma membrane.
They are small because their organelles are smaller than those of other cells.
They are small because their organelles are smaller than those of other cells.
They are small because they lack a nucleus.
They are small because they lack a nucleus.
They are long and thin with a tail-like end.
They are small because they lack a nucleus.
Red blood cells are able to move through narrow vessels to carry oxygen throughout a multicellular organism due to several reasons:
1. Red blood cells are flexible because they lack a nucleus and organelles, making them highly malleable. This flexibility allows them to squeeze through narrow capillaries and navigate through intricate networks of blood vessels.
2. They are also small in size compared to other cells in the body. The absence of a nucleus and organelles allows for a more compact structure, making them better suited for movement through narrow spaces.
3. Red blood cells have a unique shape that contributes to their ability to move through narrow vessels. They are biconcave disks, which means they are round and flat with a thinner center. This shape increases their surface area-to-volume ratio, allowing for efficient gas exchange and enhancing their ability to deform and pass through narrow capillaries.
Overall, the combination of their flexibility, small size, and unique shape enables red blood cells to maneuver through narrow vessels, ensuring the delivery of oxygen to various tissues and organs throughout the body.