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Stem
Cells Red
Blood Cells White
Blood Cells
Platelets
Plasma
Blood
Types & Activity
Bloodology
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Red Blood Cells, Platelets (stained purple),
a T-Lymphocyte white cell (stained green), and a Monocyte white
cell (stained gold) as seen through a scanning electron microscope.
©2000 Dennis Kunkel, Ph.D. |
The scientific name for red blood cells is Erythrocytes. They are
formed in the bone marrow and are created by a Stem Cell. Red cells
are the most numerous of all blood cells in the blood. They are
produced at a rate of 4-5 billion every hour in an adult human.
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That's only half the trip.
After they deliver the oxygen, the red blood cells pick up a
waste product called carbon dioxide, known as CO2.
Then they make the return trip back to the lungs through the
veins where the CO2 can finally be released. The body
eliminates carbon dioxide every time webreathe out! Then, the
red blood cells start the trip all over again. It takes,
on average only 30-45 seconds for blood cells to make one complete
circuit through the body. Red blood cells have a life
span of about 120 days. Then they die and are removed from circulation
by an organ called the spleen. |
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The hemoglobin makes the blood cells red.
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—
Gerardo,
high school student |
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