Why is It Important That the Biconcavity of the Erythrocyte

Question

Why is it important that the biconcavity of the erythrocyte increases the overall surface area
A)It prevents osmolarity changes.
B)It increases the rate of gas exchange across the membrane.
C)It provides an additional area for endocytosis.
D)It encourages cellular respiration.

Accepted Answer

The biconcavity of erythrocytes helps to increase their surface area, which in turn increases the rate of gas exchange across their plasma membranes. This is particularly important for their primary function of oxygen transport to peripheral tissues and carbon dioxide removal from those tissues.