Erythroblast

Red blood cells (RBCs), also known as red cells, haematocytes, red blood corpuscles, erythrocytes or erythroid cells. The red blood cells are responsible for delivering oxygen to all the tissues of the body with the help of the circulatory system. The oxygen is taken up by RBCs and then discharged to various tissues of the body.

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Introduction to Haemoglobin

Iron is present in the haemoglobin. It can easily bind to oxygen. Haemoglobin helps in providing red colour to the red blood cells. Haemoglobin is responsible for helping the cell maintain deformability. It also helps in providing stability to the red blood cells when they travel through the circulatory system.

Human Red Blood Cells

The red blood cells of human beings are oval and biconcave in shape. No nucleus is present in them as they have to make up space for the haemoglobin. 2.4 million red blood cells are created in adults every second. The life span of red blood cells is around 100-120 days. After they die, they end up in the spleen which is known as the graveyard of RBC.

Life Cycle

Erythropoiesis is the process of the formation of red blood cells. The RBCs are matured in roughly 7 days. After that, they can live up to 120 days. In some chronic illnesses, the life span of RBCs is shortened.

Creation

In adult human beings, the red blood cells are created by the process of erythropoiesis. This process lasts for roughly 7 days. The life span of RBCs is around 120 days after that they are sent to the spleen which is the graveyard of RBCs. The RBCs are created in the bone marrow in adult human beings and in the foetal stage, they are created in the liver.

Senescence

The plasma membrane of an ageing red blood cell changes, rendering it vulnerable to macrophage detection and eventual phagocytosis throughout the mononuclear phagocyte system (liver, spleen, and lymph nodes), eliminating old and faulty cells and purifying the blood. Eryptosis, or the programmed death of red blood cells, is the name given to this process.

Clinical Significance

The following are examples of blood disorders that affect red blood cells:

• Anaemias are disorders in which the blood's oxygen transport capacity is reduced due to decreased red cell count or a defect in the red blood cells or haemoglobin.

• The anaemia caused by the deficiency of iron is the most prevalent one. It is caused when there is a deficiency of iron in the diet of an individual.

• In sickle-cell anaemia disease, abnormally shaped red blood cells are formed. Instead of being an oval shape, the RBCs are sickle in shape. This causes a major problem in the passage of RBCs.

Transfusion

In blood transfusion, red blood cells are administered to the individual. The blood is checked continuously for diseases. Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV are examples of all the different types of diseases that are present at the time of blood transfusion.

Conclusion

RBCs are also known as Red blood cells or red blood corpuscles. They are responsible for providing red colour to the blood. They lack a nucleus because their space for a nucleus is taken up by haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is responsible for carrying out the oxygen in the blood. Due to a deficiency of haemoglobin, anaemia can take place in the body. The graveyard of red blood cells is the spleen.