Anaesthesia Fundamentals | Physiology | Red Blood Cells: Haemoglobin and its Variants

Red Blood Cells: Haemoglobin and its Variants
Session Overview
Description
This session covers the structure and function of the erythrocyte, focusing on the biochemistry and physiology of normal haemoglobin. It will also describe the pathophysiology of the haemoglobinopathies and thalassaemias.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe the morphology and function of the erythrocyte and the role of erythropoietin in erythropoiesis
• Describe the synthesis, structure and role of haemoglobin
• Interpret the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve and the factors facilitating/inhibiting oxygen dissociation
• Relate the genetics of haemoglobin production
• Demonstrate an understanding of the pathophysiology and the clinical features of Sickle Cell Disease and the thalassaemias

Haemoglobin, the main constituent of red blood cells (Fig 1), is essential to deliver sufficient oxygen to the tissues. This session covers how the erythrocyte facilitates oxygen delivery by haemoglobin and how the structure and physiology of normal haemoglobin itself functions to optimise oxygen delivery. We describe the genetics of normal haemoglobin synthesis and the pathophysiology and clinical features of genetic disorders of haemoglobin synthesis, such as Sickle Cell Disease and the thalassaemias.