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Questions and Answers
What is the main function of red blood cells in the body?
What is the main function of red blood cells in the body?
What is the lifespan of a red blood cell?
What is the lifespan of a red blood cell?
Where are red blood cells first born?
Where are red blood cells first born?
What is the shape of a red blood cell?
What is the shape of a red blood cell?
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What is the main component of hemoglobin that gives blood its red color?
What is the main component of hemoglobin that gives blood its red color?
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What is the percentage of red blood cells in our blood?
What is the percentage of red blood cells in our blood?
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What happens to a red blood cell after four months?
What happens to a red blood cell after four months?
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What is the role of hemoglobin in red blood cells?
What is the role of hemoglobin in red blood cells?
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How many red blood cells can be found in one drop of blood?
How many red blood cells can be found in one drop of blood?
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What is the function of hemoglobin in terms of oxygen?
What is the function of hemoglobin in terms of oxygen?
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Study Notes
What is a Red Blood Cell?
- Red blood cells are tiny cells that carry oxygen around the body and remove carbon dioxide from the body.
- They are responsible for giving blood its red color.
Characteristics of Red Blood Cells
- Red blood cells are shaped like flat circles or disks, similar to a smushed Starburst candy.
- They are born in the bones, which have all the necessary tools to produce red blood cells.
- Red blood cells have a limited lifespan of around four months, after which they break apart into tiny pieces that are used to make new red blood cells.
Hemoglobin
- Hemoglobin is a molecule made of iron that lives inside red blood cells.
- It is responsible for carrying oxygen to other cells that need it and gives red blood cells their red color.
- Hemoglobin picks up oxygen from the lungs and carries it to the entire body, from the head to the toes.
- It also acts as a "dump truck" to remove carbon dioxide from the body by loading it and carrying it out of the body.
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Description
Learn about the composition and functions of red blood cells in the human body, including their role in carrying oxygen and removing carbon dioxide.