Chapter 18.2, Problem 11AYLO

Summary Introduction

To discuss:

The causes and effects of hemoglobin deficiency disorders and the pathology of sickle-cell disease and thalassemia.

Introduction:

Hemoglobin is the red pigment that gives RBCs, and blood, their red color, and its concentration ranges from 13–18g/dL in men and 12–16g/dL in women. It is carried as a 33% solution in the RBC cytoplasm, and it is the body’s main oxygen-carrying component with each hemoglobin molecule carrying up to 4 molecules of oxygen. Besides this crucial role, hemoglobin also helps carry carbon dioxide (about 5% of the CO₂ in blood) and helps buffer blood. Adult hemoglobin and fetal hemoglobin are the two predominant forms found in adults and fetuses, respectively.