2007-04-12 15:41:42 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The Rhesus factor (Rh) antigens are a complex of many proteins found in the cell membrane of red blood cells. Someone who is Rh negative lacks one of the subunits (RhD). Rh positive means that the antigenic protein is present. Approximately 80% of the human population is Rh +. Someone who is Rh + has the protein so that individual will not make antibodies against their own proteins. However, someone who is Rh – does not have the protein so, when they are exposed to the Rh factor, their immune system does not recognize it as “self” and will make antibodies against the Rh factor. The antibodies will cluster on the foreign red blood cells and destroy them.
This is a problem first recognized in hemolytic disease of newborns. It occurs when the mother is Rh negative while the father and baby are Rh positive. The first baby that is Rh – is born safely because the mother has not yet made antibodies to the baby’s Rh factor. Some fetal blood will cross the placenta and enter into the mother’s circulation. However, subsequent children who are Rh negative will encounter antibodies made by the mother after exposure to the first baby. Her antibodies will attack the baby’s red blood cells (hemolyse). This can be prevented by administering Rhogam to the mother. Rhogam is an antibody that recognizes RhD and it will destroy fetal blood that enters the mother’s circulation before the mother’s immune system sees the foreign protein preventing the immune system attack on the fetus.
The Rh factor complex might be involved in transport of ammonium ions across the cell membrane. People who lack the complex have red blood cells that are spherical instead of disk shaped.
2007-04-14 19:55:15 · answer #1 · answered by Slackenerny 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rh Positive
2016-10-06 04:13:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The RH of blood is just a factor in the blood. If a woman becomes pregnant with a fetus who has RH postive blood and some of the placenta blood enters the mothers blood system her body creates antibodies against the RH positive factor. This is not an uncommon thing to happen. If the mom has other pregnancies the antibodies can attack the blood of any subsequent babies which will kill that baby. There is not an inject that mothers are given that prevents her from making the antibodies. Until this injection was created woman who had RH negative blood were advised to not marry anyone with RH postive blood.
2007-04-12 15:58:22 · answer #3 · answered by ♥♥The Queen Has Spoken♥♥ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
RH is an antibody on blood cells. RH positive means that the antibody is present, and RH negative means that the antibody is not present. In blood typing and matching people for blood transfusions this is useful. If someone is RH negative, they could not recieve blood from a RH positive person since the antigen in one plasma would destroy the other cell.
2007-04-12 15:55:17 · answer #4 · answered by corey l 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Rh + means your red blood cells contain Rh antigen.
If its negative then your red blood cells do not contain the Rh antigen.
Simple as that.
The first guy has the antibody info backwards. Rh + has no anti Rh antibodies. Rh- does have anti Rh antibodies. Plus the ANTIGEN is on the red blood cell NOT the Antibody.
We just had a test over this I had the highest test grade.
2007-04-12 15:57:25 · answer #5 · answered by AT 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's a protein in the blood called the Rh factor. If a person has this protein, the person is Rh+. If the person doesn't have it, the person is Rh-. I don't understand your second question. Sorry. Type O blood is the universal donor - Type O blood can be given to anybody. However, Type O blood can only receive Type O ... no other blood types will work in a person with Type O.
2016-03-18 00:16:12 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋