RBC Journey: Exploring the Function and Oxygen Transport of RBCs

This report delves into the intricate journey of red blood cells (RBCs) and their essential function in oxygen transport within the human body. It begins with the deoxygenated RBC entering the heart and progressing through the left atrium, left ventricle, and aorta, delivering oxygen to tissues and organs. The report then traces the return journey, where RBCs collect carbon dioxide and travel through the vena cava, right atrium, and right ventricle before going to the lungs for oxygenation. This cyclical process, completed in about a minute, highlights the RBC's role in transporting billions of oxygen molecules. The report references key studies on RBC function and oxygen affinity, providing a comprehensive understanding of this critical physiological process. The journey of the RBC, a crucial element of the circulatory system, is described in detail, including the specific structures and valves involved. The report underscores the efficiency and importance of RBCs in maintaining the body's oxygen supply, emphasizing the cellular-level mechanisms.

Running Head: STORY 0
Story of RBC
RBC as Rebecca
3-27-2020

STORY 1
The journey of Rebecca (RBC) begins right after its birth which involves delivery of
the package of oxygen from heart to the other organs and tissues of the body for their
functioning. It starts when deoxygenated Rebecca enters in the left atrium of the heart, where
it experiences contraction and gets a push to the left ventricle via bicuspid valve. Left
ventricle again contracts and pave Rebecca’s way to the aorta through semi lunar valve.
Rebecca then with its full potential travels to the vital organs, tissues and cells of the body to
provide them with the oxygen for proper functioning. In the return journey, Rebecca collects
the carbon dioxide from the tissue and carry it to the vena cava present in the heart via
network of capillaries. Further in this way the deoxygenated Rebecca again experiences a
push to get into the right atrium of the heart where the contractions make Rebecca to get into
right ventricle via the tricuspid valve. The right ventricle further helps Rebecca to get out of
the heart and send it to the lungs through the route of pulmonary artery where the carbon
dioxide is converted into oxygen for further transport. Finally, the oxygenated Rebecca again
tracks its way to heart via pulmonary vein (Caprio, Stokes, Higgins, & Schonbrun, 2015).
This whole journey or a cycle of delivery barely takes a minute. Rebecca transports
nearly around 1 billion oxygen molecule packages. It is very impulsive task which Rebecca
performs with full energy and zeal (Pittman, 2011) .

STORY 2
References
Caprio, G. D., Stokes, C., Higgins, J. M., & Schonbrun, E. (2015). Single-cell measurement
of red blood cell oxygen affinity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 112(32), 9984-9989.
Pittman, R. N. (2011). Regulation of Tissue Oxygenation. San Rafael: Morgan and Claypool
Lifesciences.