red blood cell

noun

variants: or less commonly red blood corpuscle or red cell or red corpuscle

Definition of red blood cell

: any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and in mammals are typically biconcave disks which lack a nucleus and cellular organelles and are formed from nucleated cells of the red bone marrow

Note: The number of red blood cells ranges from four to six million in each cubic millimeter of normal human blood. The red color of blood is due to the presence of hemoglobin within the red blood cells.

— called also erythrocyte

— compare white blood cell

Examples of red blood cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Treatment is usually iron supplements, or, in very severe cases, red blood cell transplantation. — Hallie Levine, Health.com, 23 Nov. 2021 Similarly, vitamin B12 and folic acid, necessary for red blood cell production, also may stimulate blood cell production. — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 11 Nov. 2021 Jemela Williams, 40, of Kansas City, Missouri, has sickle cell disease, a genetic red blood cell disorder in which a lack of oxygen flow causes pain and organ damage. — NBC News, 23 Oct. 2021 Goal: Determine the optimal blood transfusion strategy for heart attack patients with anemia, using red blood cell levels to decide when more blood is needed. — Charles Piller, Science | AAAS, 12 Aug. 2021 But Travanna has sickle cell anemia, a rare red blood cell disorder that requires her to receive monthly blood transfusions. — Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2021 Iron supports red blood cell function, immunity, and cognitive function, Ford says. — Erica Sweeney, Good Housekeeping, 16 Aug. 2021 Laurie learned to watch the monitor tracking the babies' blood pressure and the other measures: carbon dioxide levels, electrolytes, red blood cell count. — Mark Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2021 Blood banks generally do not evaluate iron levels, but rather the red blood cell levels, particularly the hemoglobin level. — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 13 July 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'red blood cell.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

4 Dec 2021

Cite this Entry

“Red blood cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20blood%20cell. Accessed 19 Jan. 2022.

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