Our red blood cells are tiny transportation units that migrate through our bloodstream. Normal red blood cells are shaped like little Smarties candies, a little more rounded and full of material that enables them to transport oxygen. They pick up the oxygen as they pass through the lung’s vasculature and deliver the oxygen to end organs, like the heart, brain, and kidneys. In some patients, for a wide variety of reasons, the total count or concentration of red blood cells can drop. This state is referred to as anemia.
Red blood cells are produced by the bone marrow, starting as stem cells and eventually transforming to mature red blood cells. This process, known as erythropoiesis, is largely driven by a hormone that comes from the kidneys, although a myriad of other vitamins and compounds must also be present for these cells to build normally and without flaw.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.