Red blood cells

What is Red blood cell?

The blood cells that carry oxygen,to the tissue. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is the hemoglobin which  transport oxygen (and carbon dioxide). Hemoglobin, aside from being a transport molecule, is a pigment. It gives the cells their red color (and their name).

Red blood cell along with WBC

The abbreviation for red blood cells is RBCs. Red blood cells are sometime simply called red cells. They are also called erythrocytes or, rarely today, red blood corpuscles.

Importance of  RBC

Shape of Erythrocytes

Red blood cells perform the vital role in our body. A single drop of blood contains millions of red blood cells which are constantly traveling through our body delivering oxygen and removing waste. If they weren't, your body would slowly die.

Red blood cells are red only because they contain a protein chemical called hemoglobin which is bright red in color. Hemoglobin contains the element Iron, making it an excellent vehicle for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. As blood passes through the lungs, oxygen molecules attach to the hemoglobin. As the blood passes through the body's tissue, the hemoglobin releases the oxygen to the cells. The empty hemoglobin molecules then bond with the tissue's carbon dioxide or other waste gases, transporting it away.

Red blood cells get worn out and eventually die. The average life cycle of a red blood cell is 120 days. Your bones are continually producing new blood cells, replenishing our blood supply. The blood itself, however, is re-circulated throughout our body, not being remade all of the time.

Since the human body is continually making more blood, it is safe for healthy adults to donate blood. The blood is then stored for use in emergency situations. Initially after giving blood, the donor may feel some momentary light headedness due to the loss of oxygen-rich red blood cells and blood sugar. The body quickly stabilizes itself.

 

RBC in tissue and Abnormal  RBC in blood

Normal range of Red blood cells

The general the range is as follows:

• Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per micro liter (cells/mcL)
• Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mc L
  

Causes of abnormal Results;Higher-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:

• Cigarette smoking
  
• Congenital heart disease
  
• Cor pulmonale
  
• Dehydration (such as from severe diarrhea)
  
• Kidney tumor (renal cell carcinoma)
  
• Low blood oxygen levels (hypoxia)
  
• Pulmonary fibrosis
  
• Polycythemia vera

Drugs that can increase the RBC count include:

• Gentamicin
• Methyldopa
  

Lower-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:

• Anemia
  
• Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxins, or tumor)
  
• Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to kidney disease)
  
• Hemolysis (RBC destruction) due to transfusion, blood vessel injury, or other cause
  
• Hemorrhage (bleeding)
  
• Leukemia
  
• Malnutrition
  
• Multiple myeloma
  

Nutritional deficiency.

  Abnormal RBC also affect Nutritional deficiency

1. Iron
2. Copper
3. Folate
4. Vitamin B-12
5. Vitamin B-6
6. Over hydration
7. Pregnancy

Drugs that can decrease the RBC count include:

• Chemotherapy drugs
  
• Chloram phenicol
  
• Hydantoins
  
• Quinidine
  

Risks

There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)