Human blood contains specialized cells, including erythrocytes (red blood cells) and various leucocytes (white blood cells), which adapt to different physiological demands and pathological conditions.
The table below shows how certain situations affect the concentration of these blood cells:
| Situation | Number of red blood cells | Number of white blood cells |
|---|---|---|
| Suffering from a chronic hookworm infection (leading to iron depletion) | decreases | stays the same |
| Living permanently in a high-altitude Andean city | increases | stays the same |
| Undergoing intensive radiation therapy of the bone marrow | decreases | decreases |
Explain why a chronic hookworm infection, which leads to a depletion of iron in the body, causes a reduction in the concentration of functional red blood cells.
Explain how the increased concentration of red blood cells in high-altitude residents benefits them when undertaking strenuous physical labor.
Explain why a severe decrease in the number of white blood cells due to radiation-induced bone marrow suppression increases the patient's vulnerability to serious infectious diseases.
