What are Red Blood Cells?
Red Blood Cell are also known as erythrocytes. They are the most abundant cells of the blood circulatory system i.e. around 40% to 45% volume of the blood consists of red blood cells. They have a unique biconcave, disc-like appearance. They do not have a functional nucleus and mitochondria in them due to which they have a very limited lifespan i.e. around 120 days.
They are produced in the bone marrow by the process of erythropoiesis and get destroyed in the spleen or in some cases the liver by the process of erythrocyte apoptosis. They consist of iron-containing haemoglobin that is responsible for carrying and transporting oxygen throughout the body.
Red Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells are responsible for the transport of oxygen throughout the body. They are one of the three main classes of blood cells, the other two are white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells are named so because they contain the iron-containing protein called the haemoglobin which imparts the characteristic red colour to the cells.
They are present in the highest numbers in the blood. This is why they are responsible for the characteristic red colour of the blood. In this article, we will look into the diagram of red blood cells, structure, and function in detail.
Table of Content
- What are Red Blood Cells?
- Diagram of Red Blood Cells
- Red Blood Cells Structure
- Features of Red Blood Cells
- Functions of Red Blood Cells
- Factors Affecting the Function of RBC