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Questions and Answers
What is the primary purpose of red blood cells?
What is the primary purpose of red blood cells?
What happens to the iron from broken down red blood cells?
What happens to the iron from broken down red blood cells?
Where does the breakdown of old red blood cells and platelets primarily occur?
Where does the breakdown of old red blood cells and platelets primarily occur?
What stimulates the production of more red blood cells?
What stimulates the production of more red blood cells?
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What is the name of the hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells?
What is the name of the hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells?
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Why do some athletes take EPO?
Why do some athletes take EPO?
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What is the other name for EPO?
What is the other name for EPO?
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What is EPO classified as?
What is EPO classified as?
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What is the hormone that controls platelet production?
What is the hormone that controls platelet production?
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What is the approximate number of red blood cells found in one microliter of blood?
What is the approximate number of red blood cells found in one microliter of blood?
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Where is EPO produced in response to low oxygen levels?
Where is EPO produced in response to low oxygen levels?
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What is the primary function of platelets in the blood?
What is the primary function of platelets in the blood?
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How often does the body need to replace red blood cells?
How often does the body need to replace red blood cells?
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Where are red blood cells and platelets produced in the body?
Where are red blood cells and platelets produced in the body?
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What is the approximate percentage of blood that is made up of red blood cells?
What is the approximate percentage of blood that is made up of red blood cells?
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How long do platelets typically last in the blood?
How long do platelets typically last in the blood?
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What is the precursor cell that red blood cells originate from?
What is the precursor cell that red blood cells originate from?
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Do red blood cells and platelets in a 20-year-old person remain the same as those from five years ago?
Do red blood cells and platelets in a 20-year-old person remain the same as those from five years ago?
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What is a characteristic that distinguishes red blood cells from their precursor cells?
What is a characteristic that distinguishes red blood cells from their precursor cells?
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What is the term for the creation of red blood cells?
What is the term for the creation of red blood cells?
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What is the primary function of the spleen in regards to red blood cells?
What is the primary function of the spleen in regards to red blood cells?
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What is the lifespan of red blood cells in circulation?
What is the lifespan of red blood cells in circulation?
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What is the name of the cell that produces platelets?
What is the name of the cell that produces platelets?
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What is the process by which a monocyte engulfs and breaks down old red blood cells?
What is the process by which a monocyte engulfs and breaks down old red blood cells?
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What is the term for a red blood cell?
What is the term for a red blood cell?
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Where do red blood cells and platelets go after they are produced?
Where do red blood cells and platelets go after they are produced?
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What is the lifespan of platelets in circulation?
What is the lifespan of platelets in circulation?
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What type of cell engulfs and breaks down old red blood cells in the spleen?
What type of cell engulfs and breaks down old red blood cells in the spleen?
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Study Notes
Blood Composition
- 1 microliter of blood contains approximately 5,000,000 red blood cells (RBCs)
- RBCs make up about 40% of blood volume
- 1 microliter of blood also contains around 200,000 platelets
Red Blood Cell Production
- Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow
- RBCs have a lifespan of approximately 120 days
- The process of creating RBCs is called erythropoiesis
- Erythropoiesis involves the division of precursor cells, which lose their nuclei to become mature RBCs
- RBCs are produced in the bone marrow and then enter the bloodstream through blood vessels
Platelet Production
- Platelets are fragments of cells called megakaryocytes
- Megakaryocytes have lots of cytoplasm and release many small platelets through a process called budding
- Platelets have a short lifespan of only a few days
- Platelets are produced in the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream through blood vessels
Blood Cell Removal
- Old or damaged RBCs and platelets are removed from the bloodstream by the spleen
- The spleen recognizes and removes old RBCs and platelets, breaking them down into their component parts
- The cells responsible for removing old RBCs and platelets are called monocytes
- The spleen recycles iron and amino acids from broken-down RBCs for further use
Regulation of Blood Cell Production
- The primary purpose of RBCs is to deliver oxygen to the body's tissues
- Low oxygen levels trigger the production of erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce more RBCs
- Erythropoietin is produced in the kidney in response to low oxygen levels
- The production of platelets is also controlled by a hormone called thrombopoietin
- Erythropoietin and thrombopoietin are both hormones that communicate between different parts of the body to regulate blood cell production
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Description
This quiz is about the composition of human blood, focusing on red blood cells. It explores the number of red blood cells in a microliter of blood and their percentage of blood volume.
