Health Articles : Blood Cells
Blood Cells : Red Blood Cell Lifespan
Causes Of Low Red Blood Cell CountRed Blood Cells (RBCs) are the oxygen carriers in the human body. The hemoglobin that it contains carries the oxygen and gives the red color to the blood ..... Red Blood Cells are actually the life-carriers in the human body. They carry oxygen to various parts of the body. They contain the vital hemoglobin, which is so much important for the body to remain healthy. Thus, the role of RBCs is beyond priceless. However, RBCs have a particular life-span. After their stipulated life-span ends, they are replaced by new blood cells.
The RBCs are produced in the bone marrow in the human body. In small children these cells are produced in all the bones. However, in adults RBCs are produced only in particular bones like thoracic bones, vertebrae, cranial bone and ends of femur and humerus bones. The size of the RBCs is as minute as 1/25,000 of an inch. Generally, the life span of RBCs is 120 days. After 120 days, the old RBCs are replaced by new RBCs. The normal red blood cell count is somewhere between 4,600,000 to 6,2000,000 per cubic millimeters.
However, if the life span of the cells is too short and the production of the RBCs is not up to the mark, there is a severe risk of anaemia. There are several problems which can lead to anaemia. Most common causes are hereditary problems which affect the level of hemoglobin adversely, any fall-outs of blood transfusions and poisonous substances can cause RBCs to burst before the life span of the RBCs end. Medical studies have also indicated that RBCs have a specific size. However certain disorders can cause the size of RBCs to vary significantly.
Blood Cell MaturationThe cell is a basic microscopic unit of our body. Visible only by a microscope, various parts of the cell can be seen and analyzed. A cell consists ..... Among anaemic people, the life-span of RBCs is extremely low. This causes severe damage to the oxygen carrying capacity of the cells. The process is not able to respond to the requirements of the body. When the cells die early, before completing their normal life tenure, the bone marrow cannot produce so many cells at a faster rate. Red blood cells also get damaged due to passing through narrow capillaries. Also, as an individual grows old, the red blood cells do not remain strong enough and thus die early.
It is imperative that the life span of the red blood cells remains normal. A variation in it can be extremely harmful for the health of the individual.
Blood Cell MorphologyThere are two types of blood cells present in a human body. They are the red blood cells and the white blood cells. The red .....
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