Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which protein is primarily responsible for carrying oxygen in erythrocytes?
A
Fibrinogen
B
Albumin
C
Myoglobin
D
Hemoglobin
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, are responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
Recognize that the primary protein responsible for oxygen transport in erythrocytes is hemoglobin.
Hemoglobin is a complex protein composed of four polypeptide chains, each with an iron-containing heme group that can bind to one oxygen molecule.
Differentiate hemoglobin from other proteins mentioned: Fibrinogen is involved in blood clotting, Albumin helps maintain osmotic pressure and transport substances in the blood, and Myoglobin stores oxygen in muscle cells.
Conclude that hemoglobin's structure and function make it the key protein for oxygen transport in red blood cells, distinguishing it from the other proteins listed.