Red blood cells are the most common cells found in blood. There are about 5 million red blood cells in each cubic millimeter of blood or approximately 250 million red blood cells in every drop of blood.They contain hemoglobin which gives them their colour of red.
These cells are produced by bone marrow and have a life spam of 3-4 months.
Red blood cells are about 7.8 micrometers in diameter, they are biconcave in shape. They have a very large surface area to help with gaseous exchange. They are very flexible which allows them to bend and bounce back to their original shape. This is handy when they have to squeeze through the tiny capillary alleyways between cells in the tissues.
Red blood cells in humans don't have a nucleus this leaves more space to carry gases instead they have hemoglobin which is a molecule composed of protein and iron. Hemoglobin carries oxygen and holds onto it until it reaches areas of the body which are low in concentration and then releases it to diffuse in local tissues.
Red blood cells also carry part of the carbon dioxide waste from the cells and is transmitted through plasma as soluble carbonates.
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