Sickle cell anemia is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. Sickle red blood cells are hard and sticky, unlike normal red blood cells which are round, like doughnuts. People get sickle cell anemia at birth by inheriting an abnormal hemoglobin from both parents who may be carriers of the sickle cell trait or have the disease. Hemoglobin is the substance in the red cell that carries oxygen inside the cell. If there is a change in this substance, it will cause the hemoglobin to form long rods in the red cell when it gives oxygen. These rods change the red cell into a sickle shape. The sickle cell disorder is in many nationalities and backgrounds.
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This is a picture of red blood cells. The blood cell at the top left corner is a normal blood cell, but the other three are red blood cells from a patient with sickle cell anemia. They are angular and rigid instead of round and flexible, making passage through capillaries in the body difficult or impossible. |
HEMOPHILIA | CYSTIC FIBROSIS | HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE | SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA | CANCER | QUIZ
