Final answer:
Option C). Cellular swelling and dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum lead to a failure of the sodium/potassium pump due to decreased ATP production, affecting cellular functions and potentially causing cell lysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sodium/potassium pump fails as a result of the endoplasmic reticulum's dilation during cellular swelling because less ATP is produced. Na+/K+-ATPase is hampered by cellular energy deficit because erythrocytes need glycolysis to produce ATP. This raises the intracellular Na+ concentration, which allows water to permeate the cells and cause swelling and possibly even lysis. Such swelling can cause red blood cell rupture and an increase in plasma bilirubin, which can result in hemolytic anemia and jaundice. A 'right shift' in the hemoglobin oxygen saturation curve, which denotes a lower affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen and an earlier oxygen release than usual, can also be caused by an increase in reaction intermediates such as 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3BPG), which can impact tissue oxygenation. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is C) failure of the sodium/potassium pump.