Question

The Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body and carry carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body to the lungs. Each red blood cell contains millions of hemoglobin proteins that bind to oxygen and carbon dioxide allowing for transport. (isotonic blood), the morphology of red blood cells can be described as slightly ovoid, biconcave disks. When severe dehydration occurs, blood becomes hypertonic: water exits red blood cells and enters into the blood plasma changing the morphology of red blood cells. In hypertonic solution, red blood cells appear deflated or wrinkly and normal function declines resulting in reduced gas transport efficiency.  Based on form and function, hypothesize how the change in Red blood cells form may produce the change in red blood cell function.

Answer 1

When there hypertonic solution then water moves out more from the cell to maintain the osmoregulation if the concentration gradient is not still the same the cells can die after getting dehydrated. The cell has hemoglobin molecules that help in respiration process which can only function when there is proper balance of fluid inside the cell. May be hemoglobin and cell cytoplasm may also come out along with the cell fluid which will disturb its functioning.

In case hypotonic solution more water enters inside the cell to maintain concentration gradient. This leads to swelling up of the cell and leads to its bursting. As cell bursts everything comes out of it and it can't function.

The cells can only work properly in isotonic solution and can't function in hepertonic or hypotonic solution.