Life Cycle of Rbc

Med Lab II
May 23, 2013

Life cycle of an Erythrocyte

There are a total of 20 to 30 trillion erythrocytes in the human body and to maintain the homeostasis about 2.5 million of those erythrocytes are destroyed and replace every second. The life cycle of an erythrocyte is 120 days. In the short lifetime the erythrocytes make an astonishing 75000 round trips between the lungs, heart and cells of the body. Erythrocytes do not possess a nucleus they are unable to repair or synthesize new cellular components and eventually they wear out. When they wear out most aging erythrocytes are pulled out of circulation by specialized leukocytes called macrophages within the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. The macrophages engulf the erythrocytes digest them and release some of their components to be recycled within the body. As the erythrocytes are broken down and their components reutilized the bone marrow is constantly at work produced new erythrocytes. The production of new erythrocytes (erythropoiesis) takes only 4 days. The hemocytoblasts are stem cells in the bone marrow from which all blood cells form. Proerythroblasts are produced by the division and differentiation of stem cells. Basophillic erythroblasts during this stage in erythropoiesis hemoglobin synthesis begins. Intermediate erythroblasts at this time we now see the accumulation of hemoglobin due to its continued synthesis. Late erythroblasts during this stage the nucleus is extruded from the cell. Reticulocyte are cells that exhibit a net-like appearance or reticulum in their cytoplasm when stained. A small number of reticulocytes are found in the circulation. Mature erythrocytes there is a loss of ribosome 's. These cells enter circulation. Anemia is a blood disorder that can be diagnosed during a physical exam. Another way of to test for anemia is get a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is used to count the number of blood cells in a sample of your blood. Normal adult hematocrit values vary from one office to another but are generally between 38.8 and 50 percent for men and 34.9 and 44.5 percent for women. Normal adult hemoglobin values are generally 13.5 to 17.5 grams per deciliter for men and 12 to 15.5 grams per deciliter for women. A test to determine the size and shape of your erythrocytes may need to be done to test for anemia. Some of your erythrocytes may be examined for unusual size, shape, and color. In iron deficiency erythrocytes are smaller and paler in color than normal. In vitamin deficiency anemia erythrocytes are enlarged and fewer in number. If you are diagnosed with anemia your doctor may order additional tests for underlying cause. Anemia is a condition when you do not have enough healthy erythrocytes to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues. There are many forms of anemia. Loss of blood is the most common cause of anemia. This can be temporary or long term and it can range from mild to severe. Treatments for anemia range from taking supplements to undergoing medical procedures. Tubes with red stoppers hold 3.5 ml of blood. These tubes are used to test patients for anemia, or having too few red blood cells.

Work Cited

Wilke, Jeanne, Ed. Davi-Ellen Chabner The Language of Medicine. St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders. 2011. Print http://affinity.jbc.org. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2013. Web. http://almostadoctor.co.uk/content/systems/haematology/haematopoiesis-blood-cell-formation. Dr. Tom Leach. 2009-2013. Web.

Cited: Wilke, Jeanne, Ed. Davi-Ellen Chabner The Language of Medicine. St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders. 2011. Print http://affinity.jbc.org.  American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2013. Web. http://almostadoctor.co.uk/content/systems/haematology/haematopoiesis-blood-cell-formation. Dr. Tom Leach. 2009-2013. Web.