Red blood is one of the types of blood cells found in the human body. The function of red blood cells is certainly different from that of white blood cells or platelet cells. In the medical world, these blood cells are known as erythrocytes. Red blood cells contain a high percentage of hemoglobin.
Therefore, the color tends to be red. You must have heard that oxygen and nutrients are distributed in the blood. These red blood cells play a role in transporting these important substances to all parts of the body.
The role of red blood cells is very important in human life. Of course, you must understand what the functions of these cells are and their effect if the levels of red blood cells do not match the body’s needs. We’ve got it all covered below!
Red blood cells are
Red blood cells are the most abundant blood cells in the human body. The red color of these blood cells comes from the content of hemoglobin, a protein compound made of iron.
These blood cells play an important role in transporting oxygen from the lungs and distributing it throughout the body. The shape of red blood cells resembles a steam bath Biconcave disc. The uniqueness of this shape allows it to bind oxygen in large quantities.
The oxygen bound to the blood cells will be released after passing through the capillaries to be distributed to the tissues and organs that the body needs. Red blood cells then transport the carbon dioxide produced by the cells and transport it to the lungs for the body to expel.
Characteristics of the shape of red blood cells
When you look at red blood cells under a microscope, they have a unique shape. This shape is designed so that the red blood cells are able to perform their function optimally. There are several key properties that red blood cells possess, including:
1. Biconcave disc shape
Red blood cells have a biconcave disk-like shape, which is a flat circle with a concave center.
Its flat shape provides a large surface for effective gas exchange. Red blood cells have different sizes. In general, red blood cells are 1-2 micrometers thick and 7-8 micrometers in diameter.
2. It does not contain a cell nucleus
The next unique feature of the anatomy of red blood cells is that they do not contain a cell nucleus. As a result, red blood cells are unable to carry out cell division.
On the other hand, this provides an advantage so that red blood cells can contain more hemoglobin. In this way, red blood cells can carry oxygen in larger quantities.
3. The color is red
The red color of red blood cells is certainly not without a reason. These cells contain and are made of iron. One of its constituent components is hemoglobin, which gives cells their distinctive red color.
4. It does not contain cellular organelles
Aside from not having a cell nucleus, erythrocytes also do not contain cellular organelles, such as ribosomes or mitochondria. The lack of parts of red blood cells allows these cells to contain more hemoglobin, and has the effect of transporting more oxygen.
Lifespan of red blood cells
Red blood cells perform respiratory functions in the body. In order to maximize performance, red blood cells have a life span of 120 days or 4 months. The dead red blood cells will be processed by the spleen and liver.
Later, some hemoglobin is processed into bilirubin and biliverdin to be stored in bile. Meanwhile, other hemoglobin will be sent to the liver and spleen as material for making new red blood cells.
Without realizing it, the human body regenerates and produces up to 20,000 red blood cells per day. This number represents only 1% of the total red blood cells in the body.
The process of forming red blood cells
As mentioned earlier, red blood cells are made of iron. However, the process of cell formation is more complex. The organ responsible for producing red blood cells is the spinal cord.
This section makes up about 2 million grid cells per second. The number of reticulocytes in the body is about 1% of the circulating blood. Mature cells will experience a maturation phase, where changes occur in the plasma layer.
Macrophages will recognize that these cells are old. Hemoglobin is then converted into bilirubin (a bile pigment).
Fully mature cells are filled with hemoglobin and then enter the human bloodstream through vessels in the bone marrow.
What is the function of red blood cells?
After knowing how red blood cells work and how they are formed in the body, it will be more complete if you learn about some of the basic functions of these important cells. The functions of red blood cells are very broad, including:
1. It maintains the dilation of blood vessels
Smooth blood vessels are a sign of good health. In this case, red blood cells play a role in releasing S-nitrosothiol, a compound that helps dilate blood vessels and thus prevent blockage.
This process occurs when hemoglobin is deoxygenated. With smooth blood vessels, all parts and organs of the body can get enough oxygen.
2. Transport and distribute oxygen to all parts
This is the main function of red blood cells. When red blood cells pick up oxygen from the lungs, they will flow along the blood vessels to distribute oxygen to all parts of the body that need it.
The process of binding oxygen to hemoglobin is called oxyhemoglobin. This process of binding and distributing oxygen occurs continuously without stopping. If it stops, of course the body’s tissues and organs can suffer damage and even death.
3. Distribution of food extracts
Most people know that red blood cells are useful for distributing oxygen, but red blood cells also work to distribute food juices throughout the body. When you eat, the body processes everything and turns it into simple substances that the body absorbs easily.
However, the body needs the help of red blood cells to deliver these nutritional juices to all tissues of the body.
4. Maintaining the body’s immunity
Red blood cells also play an important role in maintaining immunity and a healthy body. When red blood cells undergo lysis by bad bacteria, hemoglobin will produce free radical compounds that are useful for destroying the pathogen’s cell membrane.
5. Maintain body temperature balance
Many people don’t realize that red blood cells also work to maintain body temperature balance. This is why you do not feel cold or hot in certain situations and circumstances.
The blood that flows throughout the body’s tissues carries out the oxidation process. The result of this process is the emergence of other energy that helps warm the body.
This thermal energy has a constant temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius, which is why most human temperatures are at this number.
However, if the weather is hot, the blood will transfer this thermal energy to the surrounding air, so that the body temperature does not rise significantly.
6. Determine blood type
Every person has a different blood type. This occurs due to the content of red blood cells in the human body. Antigens that act as blood group determinants are agglutinin antigens in red blood cells.
People with blood type A have A antigens, and people with blood type B definitely have B antigens.
7. Binds carbon dioxide
During the process of distributing oxygen, the bloodstream also transports carbon dioxide produced by cells in the body. The carbon dioxide content is then transported to the lungs so that it can be expelled through the respiratory system.
Disorders of red blood cells in the body
Abnormal red blood cell levels in the body can cause a number of problems. Disorders caused by abnormal red blood cell levels are divided into excess red blood cells and decreased red blood cells. For more details, identify the types of problems that typically arise:
Traces of most red blood cells
Blood clot or thrombus
Having too many red blood cells can cause blood clots in the vessels. This is caused by too many red blood cells in the bloodstream. If left for too long, blood clots will occur that can threaten brain and heart functions.
Coagulation
As in the previous case, if the bloodstream carries too many red blood cells, the effect is to cause the blood to clot or bleed on one side, while the other side clots. This dangerous disease attacks the human circulatory system.
Effects of red blood cell deficiency
Anemia
A common disorder that people with low red blood cells suffer from is anemia. This disease is more commonly known as anemia. Anemia occurs when the body does not get enough of the elements that make up red blood cells, such as iron, vitamin B12, and folate.
As a result, the spinal cord is unable to produce the required number of red blood cells. A deficiency of red blood cells can cause headaches, excessive fatigue, etc.
Kidney failure
When the kidneys do not get the red blood cells they need, there is a possibility of kidney failure. The reason is that the kidneys are unable to do their job of filtering toxins in the body if the levels of red blood cells are insufficient.
People with low red blood cells are more likely to suffer from this disease than people with normal red blood cells.
Too many red cells
This is a medical condition caused by an increased number of red blood cells. The result is that the blood becomes too thick and has difficulty flowing freely to the body’s tissues. Signs of polycythemia are worsening vision, chest pain, headache, and itching all over the body.
How many red blood cells are normal in adults?
The levels of red blood cells in the human body vary according to gender and age. However, in general, the following are normal red blood cell levels in adult women, adult men, and children:
- Women: 4.2-5.4 million red blood cells/microliter
- Men: 4.7-6.1 million red blood cells/microliter
- Children: 4-5.5 million red blood cells/microliter
Foods that increase red blood cells
Now you understand how important the function of red blood cells is for the continuity of activities in the human body. Moreover, there are many disorders caused by an imbalance of red blood cells. One effort to maintain red blood cell levels is to consume the following foods:
1. Meat
It is no longer a secret that meat is a food source rich in iron and hemoglobin.
Eating meat has been shown to increase the number of red blood cells, making it suitable for consumption by those who lack red blood cells. Meats that can be eaten include chicken, beef, duck, and goat.
2. Spinach
For a more economical version, you can eat spinach to increase red blood cells. This green leafy vegetable is a good source of vitamins A and E, calcium, fibre, vegetable protein, etc.
3. Other foods
Other foods that are effective in increasing red blood cells include sweet potatoes, liver, nuts, and fruits that are high in vitamin C.
Red blood cells have a special design that makes them effective in carrying out their functions. If red blood cells are deprived of oxygen, the red blood cells can dangerously clot. Therefore, you can start taking care of your health so that you do not suffer from these problems.