Adaptations of Red Blood Cells (Edexcel IGCSE Biology: Double Science)

• Red blood cells are specialised cells which carry oxygen to respiring cells
• They are adapted for this function in 3 key ways
  • They are full of haemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin
  • They have no nucleus which allows more space for haemoglobin to be packed in
  • The shape of a red blood cell is described as being a 'biconcave disc'  this shape gives them a large surface area to volume ratio to maximise diffusion of oxygen in and out

Red blood cells