| |
erythrocyte
(ә-rith´ro-sīt)
one of the formed elements in the blood, constituting the great majority of the cells in the blood. A normal, mature erythrocyte
is a tiny disk concave on both sides, without a nucleus, consisting mainly of hemoglobin. Erythrocyte formation (erythropoiesis) takes place in the red bone marrow in the adult, and in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow in the fetus. A major function of erythrocytes is the transporting of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Their oxygen-carrying ability is due to hemoglobin, which attracts and forms a loose connection with free oxygen (oxyhemoglobin); the presence of hemoglobin allows blood to absorb huge amounts of oxygen. Oxyhemoglobin is red, which gives oxygenated blood its color. Called also red cell or corpuscle and red blood cell or corpuscle.

Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
Click here for important legal information about Dorland's Medical Dictionary.
|