Question

1. Individuals with pernicious anemia have low plasma levels of:

1. vitamin B12
2. RBCs
3. intrinsic factor
4. EPO
5. a and b
6. a, b and c

2. Which of the following statements regarding RBCs is incorrect:

1. an average adult has ~30 trillion RBCs
2. RBCs are doughnut shaped with a hole in the center
3. 1/3 of all the cells in an average adult are RBCs
4. RBCs are anucleate

Answer 1

Answer:

• F. a, b and c

Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease in which our parietal cells get destroyed. They are normally responsible for secretion of intrinsic factor which is then responsible for absorption of vitamin B12. Lack of B12 will decrease RBC synthesis. Therefore, In pernicious anemia, intrinsic factor, vitamin B12 and RBCs are low.

Other option is incorrect as EPO will rise against low blood cell level in plasma.

• B. RBCs are doughnut shaped with a hole in the center.

RBC is actually biconcave shaped. It doesn't have any hole in center. It just has a central pallor. Therefore, the statement is not true.

Other options are incorrect as they are true statement.

1/3 of all the cells in an average adult are RBCs

RBCs are anucleate

an average adult has ~30 trillion RBCs