Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Characterization of Sickling During Controlled Automated Deoxygenation with Oxygen Gradient Ektacytometry
Published on: November 5, 2019
Red Blood Cell Dysfunction in Critical Illness
Stephen Rogers1, Allan Doctor1
1Department of Pediatrics, Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis, University of Maryland School of Medicine, HSF III, 8th Floor, 670 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA.
Abstract:
Oxygen (O2) delivery, which is fundamental to supporting patients with critical illness, is a function of blood O2 content and flow. This article reviews red blood cell (RBC) physiology and dysfunction relevant to disordered O2 delivery in the critically ill. Flow is the focus of O2 delivery regulation: O2 content is relatively fixed, whereas flow fluctuates greatly. Thus, blood flow volume and distribution vary to maintain coupling between O2 delivery and demand. This article reviews conventional RBC physiology influencing O2 delivery and introduces a paradigm for O2 delivery homeostasis based on coordinated gas transport and vascular signaling by RBCs.
More Related Videos
10:07Immunostaining-Based Detection of Dynamic Alterations in Red Blood Cell Proteins
Published on: March 17, 2023
08:53Author Spotlight: Advancing Erythropoiesis Research - A Simplified Pipeline for Assessing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Function in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Published on: January 10, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Disorders of Erythrocytes
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...
Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...
Erythropoiesis
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Blood Transfusion
Blood Transfusion Overview
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure used to replace blood lost due to injury, surgery, or to treat conditions such as anemia or cancer. During a transfusion, donor blood is...
Lifecycle of Erythrocytes
The resident phagocytic macrophages deal with these damaged cells by engulfing them and separating their globin and heme groups....