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Red blood cells, which are smaller then the normal ones are called microcytes. They are generally less than 6um, while normal, mature red blood cells measure 7-8 um in diameter. The reason for the smaller size is inefficient or defective haemoglobin production.

Iron deficiency anaemia happens if the body hasn't got enough iron for the haemoglobin synthesis (production). Haemoglobin, a large protein, contains heme groups with iron atoms. It is where the oxygen is carried (and the carbon dioxide as well). The body has iron storages, and normally loses very little iron. But, if more iron is needed (bleeding, rapid adolescence growth, pregnancy, lactation, for example), and the intake of dietary iron is not enough, the storages got depleted.

The produced red blood cells (as they have less haemoglobins in them) will be smaller and also paler (hypochromic), as haemoglobin is the pigment which gives the red colour to the red blood cells.

Thalassaemia is another disease which characteristically has small (microcytic) and pale (hypochromic) red blood cells. Thalassaemia is an inherited condition in which the haemoglobin are defective. The defective red blood cells got destroyed much sooner than normal red blood cells are.

In both conditions, the decreased haemoglobin leads to anaemia, the insufficient oxygenation of body tissues.

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What is the disease where blood cells do not carry enough oxygen?

The disease is called anemia, which can be caused by various factors such as nutritional deficiencies, blood loss, or underlying health conditions affecting the production or function of red blood cells. Anemia can result in symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and pale skin due to decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.


How does the disease affect the cells?

The blood cells can't carry as much oxygen as they should be able to carry. So the body gets less oxygen.


How does disease affect the cells?

The blood cells can't carry as much oxygen as they should be able to carry. So the body gets less oxygen.


What takes oxygen to all the cells in your body?

In case of human being you have red blood cells in your blood. They contain haemoglobin. This can carry seventy times more oxygen than plasma can carry. ( Say about 280 ml/ 100 ml of blood.) The bonding of oxygen is strong enough to hold the oxygen at lungs and to carry it in blood. Here the oxygen concentration is high. This bonding is loose enough to give oxygen at proximal end of the capillaries. Here oxygen concentration is low. This oxygen is carried through the interstitial fluid to the cells.


What are the main conponents of blood?

White blood cells that fight disease, red blood cells which carry oxygen, and platelets that form scabs.


Do arteries carry oxygen-rich blood to capillaries?

Systemic Arteries carry oxygen rich blood (also called oxygenated blood). Pulmonary Arteries carry oxygen poor (deoxygenated) blood


Is blood in the arteries in rich in oxygen?

By definition, ALL arteries carry Oxygen rich blood. Veins carry oxygen depleted blood.


How come people who don't have enough iron in their diet sometime cannot carry a normal amount of oxygen in their blood?

B/c the iron in the blood is what carries the oxygen around the body. With too little iron, not enough oxygen carriers.


Where does veins carry oxygen depleted blood to?

Veins carry oxygen depleted blood to the heart.


What kind of blood does vein carry?

Usually veins carry blood low in oxygen back to the heart except for the pulmonary veins. They carry blood higher in oxygen.


Which blood celld carry oxygen?

red blood cels are the oxygenated cells..[ie carry oxygen]


Does your blood carry food?

no it carry's oxygen