People with sickle cell disease often experience episodes of severe pain in their joints, chest, and abdomen and swelling in their hands and feet. Using what you know about the function of blood, why do you think the abnormal shape of sickled red blood cells causes these symptoms?

Question

Biology

Peppermint

31 October, 14:39

People with sickle cell disease often experience episodes of severe pain in their joints, chest, and abdomen and swelling in their hands and feet. Using what you know about the function of blood, why do you think the abnormal shape of sickled red blood cells causes these symptoms?

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Samantha Reese · Answer 1

It causes these symptoms because the cells are sickled meaning they are moon shaped and not the shape of a regular red blood cell, so not enough oxygen is in the cell.