• Question: what elements are in a blood cell

    Asked by trollface to Austin, Kirsty, Nicola, Nike, Sarah on 19 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Austin Elliott

      Austin Elliott answered on 19 Jun 2012:

      For some things, namely IONS, the inside of cells has the same ones as the outside, but in different proportions.

      In your blood, the main CATION (positive ion) is sodium (Na+), about 140 mM (milliMolar), or 0.14 M. There is a lot less potassium (K+), about 5 mM (0.005 M).

      Inside cells, including red blood cells, it’s the other way around as there is a lot more potassium than sodium – 120 mM K+ , and somewhere between 10 and 25 mM Na+. This difference between inside and outside the cell is very important for how cells work.

      The ANIONS (negative ions) in your blood are mostly chloride (Cl-, about 120 mM) and a bit of bicarbonate (hydrogen carbonate, HCO3-, about 20-25 mM). Inside cells you have these same two, but less chloride ions than in blood. A lot of the anions inside cells are negatively-charged proteins.

      Inside your RED blood cells there is a lot of the protein haemoglobin, which is what carries oxygen around in the blood from your lungs to different tissues. Proteins are the main ‘machinery’ of the body, and are built out of amino acids. There are hundreds or even thousands of different proteins in a cell, but where a cell has a major ‘specialist’ job, like red blood cells and carrying oxygen, the cells will often have a lot of whichever particular protein (or proteins) does the job.

    • Photo: Kirsty Ross

      Kirsty Ross answered on 21 Jun 2012:

      Really good answer Austin. I’d also add that the haemoglobin makes up about 97% of red blood cell dry weight, and can also carry CO2 and CO as well. CO is a major problem from faulty boilers, as it binds irreversibly and can cause headaches, dizziness and eventually death. Before cars had catalytic convertors fitted, this is why it was possible to commit suicide using the exhaust gases.

      To make sure that you have lots of healthy red blood cells you need to make sure you eat plenty of iron rich foods. If you are deficient in iron you can become anaemic, which can make you faint, as your blood can’t carry as much oxygen as it needs to.

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