Which blood cell type carries oxygen throughout the body?

Which blood cell type carries oxygen throughout the body?

• A. Erythrocyte
• B. Leukocyte
• C. Platelet
• D. Plasma

Answer: (A)

Oxygen transport in the bloodstream is carried by red blood cells because they contain hemoglobin, a protein with iron that binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it to tissues where it’s needed. The hemoglobin’s oxygen binding is reversible, allowing pickup and delivery as blood circulates. Red blood cells also have a curved, flexible shape that maximizes surface area for gas exchange and helps them glide through tiny capillaries. Other blood components don’t perform this task: leukocytes are immune cells, platelets help with clotting, and plasma is the liquid medium that transports various substances but not the oxygen itself. So the carrier of oxygen throughout the body is the erythrocyte.

Oxygen transport in the bloodstream is carried by red blood cells because they contain hemoglobin, a protein with iron that binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it to tissues where it’s needed. The hemoglobin’s oxygen binding is reversible, allowing pickup and delivery as blood circulates. Red blood cells also have a curved, flexible shape that maximizes surface area for gas exchange and helps them glide through tiny capillaries. Other blood components don’t perform this task: leukocytes are immune cells, platelets help with clotting, and plasma is the liquid medium that transports various substances but not the oxygen itself. So the carrier of oxygen throughout the body is the erythrocyte.