Red Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells (RBCs), also known as Erythrocytes (pronounced: eh-RITH-ro-sites), are the most common type of Blood cell and the principal means of delivering Oxygen to the body tissues via the Blood stream. The cells are filled with Hemoglobin, a molecule that can bind to oxygen and is responsible for the blood's red color.
Etymology
The term "Erythrocyte" comes from the Greek words "erythros" meaning "red", and "kytos" meaning "hollow", referring to the cell's red color and its concave shape.
Structure
Red Blood Cells are biconcave discs, a shape that provides a large surface area relative to volume. This facilitates rapid diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide across the cell membrane. They lack a cell nucleus and most organelles to accommodate maximum space for hemoglobin.
Function
The primary function of Red Blood Cells is to transport oxygen from the Lungs to the body's tissues and then transport carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. This is possible due to the presence of hemoglobin in the cells.
Related Terms
- Hemoglobin: The protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
- Anemia: A condition in which the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to deliver adequate oxygen to the body's tissues.
- Hematocrit: The proportion of the blood that consists of packed red blood cells. It is expressed as a percentage by volume.
- Erythropoiesis: The process by which red blood cells are produced.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Red Blood Cells
- Wikipedia's article - Red Blood Cells
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