Where are adult red blood cells formed?

If you ever thought about where adult red blood cells (RBCs) are formed, then congrats! You’re a nerd – just like me. The answer is not as simple as you think, but that doesn’t mean it’s rocket science. In this article, we will dive deep into the nitty-gritty of hematopoiesis and uncover where exactly in your body these tiny life-sustaining cells originate.

What even are RBCs?

Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, are one of the most important types of cells in humans – animals too for that matter. They work tirelessly to transport oxygen from the lungs to all parts of your body through your veins and arteries. Without them, we would be dead like dinner plates (pun intended).

A Brief Overview on Blood Cell Formation

To understand better how RBCs come into existence, let’s take a brief trip into bone marrow 101! Bone marrows are tissues located inside bones that produce white blood cells (leukocytes), platelets (thrombocytes) – both involved with clotting- and different subtypes of red blood cells (erythroblasts). These formative processes fall under hematopoiesis which occurs mainly during embryonic development followed by production continuing throughout adulthood.

Embryonic Hematopoiesis

In embryonic life development (between weeks two through five gestation), hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell subsets (HSC/HPCs) develop neural crest-like structures called blood islands within clusters around yolk sac precursors and later on migrate to liver or viscerocranial mesoderm, an area around pharynx giving birth to head/body mesenchyme areas which fuel head/heart vasculature branchings.

Adult Hematopoiesis

Once you’re born, your bone marrow takes over the responsibility of manufacturing new blood cells. This process is known as adult hematopoiesis and happens mainly in flat bones such as sternum, ribs, and long ones such as the ends of femurs. At any given time, about 5% of red blood cells are being produced by the bone marrow to replace dying or damage cells.

Erythropoietin: The Guardian Angel Hormone

Before we dive into specifics about RBC formation in adults, it’s important to introduce our main protagonist – erythropoietin (EPO).

What is EPO?

Erythropoietin (pronounced e-rith-ro-poy-uh-tin) commonly abbreviated as EPO is a hormone composed primarily by peritubular interstitial fibroblasts located around kidney nephrons’ outer cortex regions.

How does EPO work?

Erythropoietin works tirelessly to regulate the production of RBCs inside your body. Whenever oxygen levels decrease in your bloodstream due to exercise or living at high altitude, for example, your kidneys release more erythropoietin into circulation which prompts bone marrow cells called “erythrocyte precursors” that reside within red conduits — sinusoids– packing spaces between layers cortical osseous cavities walls tissues where they undergo multiple cell size/shape changes named morphological differentiation until acquiring final stretched-donut shape (biconcave discoid).

An Overview on Red Blood Cell Formation

Now let’s talk specifically about how adult red blood cells are formed from these precursor stem/progenitor cells present throughout life termed megakaryocytes (MKs) & myeloblasts found nearby.

There are three stages involved:

Stage One: Proerythroblastic Stage

The first stage of RBC development happens when the HSC/HPCs turn into proerythroblasts. These cells are nucleated and bigger in size than those found in blood vessels (10-20µm) acquires intrinsic capability to synthesize & store haemoglobin (Hb), an iron containing protein portion capable of binding up to four oxygen molecules simultaneously.

Stage Two: Basophilic Erythroblast Stage

During this stage, proerythroblasts further differentiate into basophilic erythroblast that lose their nucleus or de-condense it if residing within rbc membrane confines beginning accumulation more actively for separated hemoglobin content fractions – alpha globin (chromosome 16) and beta globin chains (chromosome 11) combining side by side with two heme chemical groups derived from porphyrins’ pathways precursors inserted inside mitochondria — ultimately metamorphosing each cell’s profile from polychromatic to orthochromatic as organelles break down& degrade

The Final Stage: Polychromatophilic Erythroblast/Reticulocyte Ages

Lastly, after multiple rounds of cellular differentiation through transforming nuclear composition indiscernible chromatin imprints on the reticular system ((RNA)), obtaining angulated edge shape morphology while still retaining a female estrogen-rich granular halo surrounding them aiding transit speed throughout microcirculatory destinations attached bandage like residues woven onto fibrinogen strands before releasing final result RBCell listed as fully-formed/“adult” red blood cell destined towards lungs pick-up parties!

FAQs on Red Blood Cell Formation

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding RBC formation:

How many RBCs does our body produce per day?

On average, your bone marrow produces about 2 million red blood cells every second which equates to around 172800000 new RBCs in a day. Man, that’s quite a lot of blood makeup!

Can RBC production increase or decrease?

Yes! If the body needs more oxygen (e.g., during exercise) or loses too many red blood cells due to bleeding, your EPO levels will rise which prompts more RBC formation than usual. On the other hand, certain conditions like kidney diseases can lead to decreased circulating erythropoietin hormone within bloodstream producing decreased quantity & quality of newly-formed rbc amount.

How long do RBCs live?

Adult humans typically have an average lifespan for their matured Type O~negative type-positive – ABh subtype`, about 60 -120 days with potential longevity extending if different subtypes are circulated through bone marrow supply chains.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adult red blood cells are formed from stem/progenitor cells known as HSC/HPCs present mostly in flat and long bones such as femurs and ribs by going through three stages: Proerythroblastic Stage, Basophilic Erythroblast stage and lastly The final stage Polychromatophilic Erythroblast/Reticulocyte Ages each time acquiring novel structural signal profiles while losing others contributing to calcium balance among various cations affecting overall zeta-potentials across membrane surfaces.
So there you have it folks; now you know where adult red blood cells come from. It’s not rocket science at all – just amazing physiological processes led by biological cues that endlessly continue fuelling heme-mediated metabolic pathways properly sending cellular “taxi-cabs” throughout circulatory highways!

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