What is the full form of the RBC?
Red Blood Cell is RBC full form. RBCs are biconcave, nucleus-free, human cells that are also known as erythrocytes. RBCs contain the iron-rich protein hemoglobin, which imparts a red color to blood. RBCs are the most abundant blood cells formed in the bone marrow.
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Blood is red because hemoglobin is primarily composed of iron, which is combined with oxygen. It accounts for 40-45% of the total volume of blood.
Few points about RBC
- Hematocrit is the proportion of total red blood cells in the total volume of blood.
- Approximately 0.5 billion RBCs are present in a single blood drop.
- For every 600 RBC, there are approximately 40 platelets and 1 WBC (white blood cell).
- RBCs are continuously produced in the bone marrow and remain in the bloodstream for approximately 120 days before being eliminated by the spleen or liver.
- The bone marrow produces sufficient RBCs to compensate for the loss caused by the removal of old RBC.
- A mature human RBC is a microscopic, circular, disc-shaped cell devoid of a nucleus. On a peripheral blood smear, its diameter ranges between 7-8 microns.
- In order to move through the tiniest blood vessels or capillaries, they have a flexible membrane that allows them to change appearance.
- There are approximately 4.5 to 6 million RBCs per cubic millimeter of blood volume in an adult human.
Primary Functions of RBC
- RBC contains a pigment that binds to oxygen or carbon dioxide molecules.
- It entails transporting oxygen to various human tissues and organs.
- It also extracts carbon dioxide from multiple organs and tissues to replenish the lungs.
RBC lifespan
- RBC has a lifespan between 100 and 120 days.
- Once their life cycle is complete, they are expelled via the circulatory system.
- Chronic diseases reduce the longevity of red blood cells (RBCs).
