Topic: Red Blood Cells (RBCs)

Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, are the most common type of blood cell in the human body. They
are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and removing carbon
dioxide from those tissues back to the lungs.

Structure:

• RBCs are small, disk-shaped cells with a biconcave shape, giving them a large surface area to
volume ratio for efficient gas exchange.
• They contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen and gives RBCs their red color.
• Mature RBCs in humans lack a nucleus and other organelles, allowing more space for
hemoglobin.

Function:

• RBCs transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and organs.
• They also help remove carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular metabolism, from the
tissues and transport it to the lungs to be exhaled.

Production:

• RBCs are produced in the bone marrow, specifically in the erythropoietic islands.
• The production and maturation of RBCs are regulated by erythropoietin, a hormone released
by the kidneys in response to low oxygen levels in the blood.

Life span:

• The average life span of an RBC is about 120 days.

• After this time, they are removed from circulation by macrophages in the spleen and liver.

Disorders:

• Anemia is a condition characterized by low levels of hemoglobin or RBCs, leading to

decreased oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood.
• Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder in which abnormal hemoglobin causes RBCs to form a
sickle shape, leading to reduced oxygen delivery and other health problems.
• Polycythemia is a disorder in which there is an overproduction of RBCs, leading to thickening
of the blood and increased risk of blood clots.

In conclusion, red blood cells are essential for delivering oxygen to the body's tissues and removing
carbon dioxide. Their structure, function, production, life span, and disorders are important to
understand for medical and physiological purposes