How long does a human red blood cell survive?
A unit of red blood cells (RBCs) expires in 35 or 42 days because of the type of anticoagulant in the bag. But in real life RBCs live about 120 days. When they get old and their membrane starts to show wear and tear (like most of us), they get removed from the blood circulation in the spleen, liver and bone marrow at about the same rate as new ones get produced. It’s the original “sustainable” environment.
There are millions of RBCs in just one drop of blood. People who live at higher altitudes have more (like in the mountains of Peru). They are produced in the bone marrow of large bones at a rate of 2 million per second. In the minute it took you to read this, you made 120 million of them!
More Info:
stanfordbloodcenter.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
24 Comments
Albeck1994
And we have another clone , with 2 correct answers , as Red blood cells live between 110 to 120 days
Mark Gavin
As a Type I diabetic, now almost 60 years old, I have my blood checked regularly, as one of the impacts of diabetes is on the haemoglobin in red blood cells. Better diet, more exercise, etc all help to improve the results. But it isn't possible to improve overnight as the red blood cells last between 110 and 120 days, on average, so "being good" for a week doesn't cut it! This question doesn't quite cut it either!
Cheryl Love
The generally accepted answer in med school, hospital settings, blah blah blah is 120 days. Stop nitpicking.
Phillip Stanley
Badly worded question. Inside the body, outside the body, in a bottle, open to the air? Specify where the blood is! The answer had the blood in two different locations.
Clm
I'm sorry.. medical school states 110-120 days not enough research done for this question.
Sonia Contreras
Buena explicación.
Billy
The answers are wrong, bad question.
Billy
Cheryl Love, why would anyone put 115 days as a wrong answer in this question? It is very annoying and misleading
Jackie
I was just 5 short!
crdemarti
May Tuann Tucker, PhD, the meaning of hemolysis is the actual lysis (destruction ) of the cell wall
releasing the contents. Yes, when rbc hemolysis occurs, the cell is no longer viable, but after a 50 yr. career in Hematolgy, I have never used or been aware of that term used as an arbitrary shortening of viability. Mature red cells enter the circulatory system, live out their life span of approximately 120 days and are replaced.
tracey foster
Albeck, and tough lady? Players, game, don't pay any attention to them.🙄💤💤💤
robert
Incorrect!!! Please read this:: in a normal individual with a mean RBC lifespan of 115 days, this value may vary between 70 and 140 days
hazelphyllis
Cheryl Love, makes me wonder why the nitpickers don't just use "replace Question". Maybe they just want something to whinge about.to display their "superior" knowledge
hazelphyllis
toughlady, If you know the answer why don't you use the replace question option so that you get a more challenging question?
Stephen Liebman
Bad answer options. Questions should have been vetted better.
Steve Heady
RBC's live 110-120 days. The author of this question gave 2 answers that were appropriate. This question needs editing to make it have only one correct answer.
Carl Belken
I think this might be a repeat question.
steve
RBC's last between 110-120 days. There is NO absolute time limit!!
William Laughlin
Marian Spitzig,
You are complimenting a clone!