Multiple Choice
Which type of blood cell is the most numerous in the human body?
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17. The Blood
Erythrocytes
Multiple Choice
In human physiology, what is the primary function of erythrocytes (red blood cells)?
A
Produce antibodies to neutralize pathogens in the bloodstream
B
Transport oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and help carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs
C
Initiate blood clotting by forming a platelet plug at sites of vessel injury
D
Provide immune defense by phagocytosing bacteria and presenting antigens
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand the role of erythrocytes by recalling their main structural features, such as the presence of hemoglobin, which is a protein specialized in binding gases.
Step 2: Recognize that erythrocytes lack nuclei and organelles, which limits their functions primarily to gas transport rather than immune responses or clotting.
Step 3: Identify that hemoglobin within erythrocytes binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it in body tissues, facilitating oxygen delivery throughout the body.
Step 4: Note that erythrocytes also assist in transporting carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, from tissues back to the lungs for exhalation.
Step 5: Differentiate erythrocytes from other blood cells such as leukocytes (immune defense) and platelets (blood clotting), confirming that their primary function is gas transport.
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