Video Transcript
What does having a positive rhesus
factor, Rh positive, mean? (A) The red blood cells have
responded positively to the introduction of a rhesus antigen. (B) There are no rhesus antigens
present on the red blood cells. (C) There are rhesus antigens
present on the red blood cells.
Let’s start by clarifying
terms. What is a rhesus factor, or Rh? Rhesus factor is an antigen present
on the surface of our red blood cells. We may remember that antigens are
proteins that can cause an immune response and that there are antigens on the
surface of many cells. Here, you can see the type A
antigen on the surface of this red blood cell. This makes the person who has this
blood group have blood group A.
The rhesus factor is another
antigen on the surface of our red blood cells that was originally discovered on the
red blood cells of rhesus monkeys. And this is how it got its
name. So what does it mean to be positive
for rhesus factor, or Rh positive? Being Rh positive simply means that
the rhesus factor antigen is present on the surface of the individual’s red blood
cells. And Rh negative means this antigen
is not present.
Therefore, the option that
correctly indicates the meaning of Rh positive is given by answer choice (C). There are rhesus antigens present
on the red blood cells.
