Red Blood Cells - Non-Living But Necessary Cells

Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, are important components of blood, despite the fact that they have no vital activity. These cells have a special shape of biconcave discs and perform one of the most important functions in the body - transporting oxygen.

Typically, red blood cells have a diameter of 6 to 9 µm and a thickness of about 1 µm, but at the edges they can increase to 2.2 µm. In total, 1 mm3 of human blood contains about 4.5-5 million red blood cells, which is approximately 45% of blood volume.

The peculiarity of red blood cells lies in their origin. They are formed in the bone marrow during the process of erythropoiesis. This process continues continuously as every second the spleen's macrophages destroy about two million old or damaged red blood cells that must be replaced with new ones.

It may seem surprising that red blood cells are considered "non-living" cells. They do not contain a nucleus or mitochondria, which are usually found in other cells in the body. However, the absence of these structures does not prevent them from performing their main function - transporting oxygen.

The main component of red blood cells, hemoglobin, plays a key role in their work. Hemoglobin is a protein molecule consisting of four chains of amino acids. Each chain is connected to a heme molecule, which contains an iron atom. This atom is able to bind to oxygen molecules in the lungs and transport them to the tissues and organs of the body.

As blood circulates, red blood cells pass through the lungs, where they exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. They then deliver oxygen to tissues and organs, where it is needed to maintain cellular respiration and ensure normal functioning of the body.

Thus, red blood cells, although not living cells in the full sense of the word, play a fundamental role in the life of the body. Without them, it is impossible to provide sufficient oxygen to all tissues and organs. Their ability to efficiently carry oxygen makes them an integral part of our blood and life.