Abstract
The erythrocyte is a circular, biconcave disk of from 7 to 7.8 μm in diameter (mean diameter = 7.4 μm) with a maximum thickness of 2.5 μm. In the adult, the circulating erythrocytes have a total surface of about 3500 m2, which permits a rapid exchange of respiratory gases. Hemoglobin, the most important element, makes up some 95% of the dry cellular substance. It plays an essential role in the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide. It also acts as a buffer.
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© 1979 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
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Frick, P.G., Straub, P.W. (1979). Blood. In: Buehlmann, A.A., Froesch, E.R. (eds) Pathophysiology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-9954-7_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-9954-7_4
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9956-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-9954-7
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