Red Blood Cells Facts & Worksheets

Premium

Download the Red Blood Cells Facts & Worksheets

Click the button below to get instant access to these worksheets for use in the classroom or at a home.

Download This Worksheet

This download is exclusively for KidsKonnect Premium members!
To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download!

Sign Me Up

Already a member? Log in to download.

Download

Edit This Worksheet

Editing resources is available exclusively for KidsKonnect Premium members.
To edit this worksheet, click the button below to signup (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start editing!

Sign Up

Already a member? Log in to download.

Edit

This worksheet can be edited by Premium members using the free Google Slides online software. Click the Edit button above to get started.

The oxygen we take from the environment and the carbon dioxide we produce as a waste product need a medium to be distributed throughout the cells and removed from the body. The red blood cells perform this vital function.

See the fact file below for more information about Red Blood Cells, or you can download our 30-page Red Blood Cells worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BLOOD

• Blood is a connective tissue that looks like a red fluid. It is the medium used by the circulatory system to transport materials and waste and to fight off infections. 
• The blood has two main components: plasma and corpuscles. The corpuscles are the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These corpuscles are suspended in the liquid portion of the blood, which is the plasma. 
• Each of these components has a specific distribution. Plasma makes up 55% of the blood, 45% is the red blood cells, and the remaining 1% is further divided into white blood cells and platelets. 
• These components also have a different structure, allowing each to perform its specific function. To give you an overview, outlined below are their functions.
• PLASMA: Transports blood cells throughout the body.
• RED BLOOD CELL: Transports gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen.
• WHITE BLOOD CELL: Fights off infections and foreign materials. 
• PLATELET: Prevents blood loss by clogging injured blood vessels.
• In this fact file, we will focus on red blood cells.

RED BLOOD CELLS

• Also known as erythrocytes, the red blood cells are produced by the bone marrow through a process called erythropoiesis. 
• These cells are the densest among the four components of blood and have the widest distribution in a blood sample. Due to this, our blood is red despite the presence of the other components.
• Erythrocytes are biconcave in shape and have a hollow or flattened center. They are only 6 micrometers in diameter and 2.5 micrometers in height and have no nucleus. 
• Due to their shape, red blood cells have a large surface area.
• This large surface allows them to diffuse as much oxygen as they can. The lack of a nucleus also contributes to this.
• Since red blood cells have no nucleus, there is more space for hemoglobin, a protein that allows oxygen to bind to the cell. 
• The structure and size of the red blood cell also allow it to squeeze through the smallest blood vessels. 
• Again, the absence of a nucleus allows them to be more flexible, thereby helping them to travel all around the body via the blood vessels.
• Despite the advantages of having no nucleus, it also has a disadvantage: the short life span of the red blood cells. These cells can only survive an average of 120 days before being recycled.

ERYTHROPOIESIS

• As mentioned earlier, erythrocytes or RBCs are produced via a process called erythropoiesis. This process happens in the bone marrow, where all the other corpuscles – white blood cells and platelets, are also produced. 
• The hematopoietic stem cells are where the corpuscles arise, meaning that these stem cells can differentiate into red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets.
• In this process, the hematopoietic stem cell differentiates into a proerythroblast, which then becomes an early erythroblast.
• Ribosome synthesis takes place in an early erythroblast, preparing the cell for the accumulation of hemoglobin, which will take place in the late erythroblast. 
• Later, the late erythroblast develops into a normoblast, which then becomes a reticulocyte.
• In 24-48 hours, it then matures into an erythrocyte. Due to the absence of a nucleus, an erythrocyte can only last for about 120 days.
• Old or damaged erythrocytes need to be removed and recycled. Their removal is facilitated by three organs: the spleen, liver, and bone marrow.
• The organs mentioned have macrophages. These specialized types of cells can engulf materials and organisms that are harmful or no longer needed by the body.
• As the macrophage engulfs the old or damaged RBC, it breaks down, causing an increase in hemoglobin. This substance then breaks down into its components: heme and globin.
• Globin breaks down into amino acids. Meanwhile, heme breaks down into bilirubin and iron (Fe2+).
• The amino acids return to the bone marrow to create another batch of red blood cells, while the iron and bilirubin head to the liver.
• The iron is stored in the liver to return to the bone marrow to create red blood cells when necessary.
• On the other hand, bilirubin uses the bone marrow to proceed to the duodenum in the small intestine, where it can either be excreted through urine or feces or reabsorbed by the body.
• It is important to note that our diet also affects the production of erythrocytes or RBCs. Nutrients such as amino acids, monosaccharides, lipids, vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron are essential for the production of erythrocytes.
• Aside from nutrients, certain conditions can also affect this process. One example is hypoxia, a condition wherein our body has decreased levels of oxygen. Thus, it triggers the kidneys to produce and secrete erythropoietin. This hormone triggers the process of erythropoiesis.

DISTRIBUTION OF GASES AND REMOVAL OF CARBON DIOXIDE

• As mentioned earlier, red blood cells are responsible for transporting gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells. It comprises two main parts: the heme group and the globin group.
• The heme group contains iron, which is responsible for the red color of this cell. Meanwhile, the globin group allows oxygen to attach to the red blood cell.
• This function of red blood cells is necessary for the survival of an organism. They allow all cells of the body to acquire oxygen.
• Oxygen is needed by the cell to produce ATP, its energy currency, through the process of cellular respiration.
• While ATP is produced by the cell, carbon dioxide is also produced as a waste product.
• This gas is harmful to the body and needs to be removed. Red blood cells pick up this gas while dropping off oxygen.
• Red blood cells filled with carbon dioxide are called deoxygenated blood, while those filled with oxygen are called oxygenated blood.
• As a red blood cell is deoxygenated, it travels to the heart using the veins. The superior vena cava and inferior vena cava drain deoxygenated blood from different parts of the body to the right atrium of the heart.
• From the right atrium, the blood goes to the right ventricle and ultimately to the lungs to pick up oxygen by passing through the pulmonary artery.
• After picking up oxygen, the blood uses the pulmonary vein to go back to the heart, where the left ventricle pumps it to the aorta to the different parts of the body. 
• This circulation of blood ensures that all cells receive their much-needed oxygen and remove their carbon dioxide.

CONDITIONS AND DISEASES

• Some conditions and diseases may affect the number of red blood cells in your body. These conditions may lower or increase your red blood cell count.
• Anemia is a condition characterized by a decreased production of red blood cells. As a result, people with anemia often feel tired or weak as there is not enough oxygen being supplied to the different cells of the body.
• Disorders that affect the bone marrow, such as leukemia, also decrease the production of red blood cells.
• Leukemia is a cancer of the blood characterized by the rapid production of abnormal blood cells, leading to fewer red blood cells.
• On the other hand, hypoxia is a condition wherein there is not enough oxygen to supply the needs of our cells. Due to this, a hormone is released to produce more red blood cells in the hopes of normalizing the oxygen levels in the body.
• Another example is polycythemia vera, a type of leukemia. However, instead of a decreased amount of red blood cells, the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells. Due to the excess number of erythrocytes, the blood becomes thicker, increasing the chances of blood clots that can lead to heart attack or stroke.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR RED BLOOD CELLS

• Red blood cells are necessary for the proper and efficient functioning of the entire organism. Thus, it follows that we should properly take care of them.
• In the process of erythropoiesis, the nutrients we put into our body are necessary for the production of red blood cells.
• Thus, making sure that our diet includes good sources of vitamins and minerals like iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 will be helpful.
• Good sources of these vitamins and minerals include red meat, meat from the liver, fish, kale, lentils, beans, peas, spinach, nuts, and dried berries. 
• Exercise also improves the production of red blood cells, which equates to more efficient distribution and removal of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Red Blood Cells Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Red Blood Cells across 30 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Red Blood Cells. The oxygen we take from the environment and the carbon dioxide we produce as a waste product need a medium to be distributed throughout the cells and removed from the body. The red blood cells perform this vital function.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Red Blood Cells Fact File
2. Searching for Words
3. Self-Check
4. Fact Check
5. Life Cycle
6. Plasma + Corpuscles
7. Blood Typing
8. RBC Matters
9. Blood Health
10. Lifestyle Matters
11. A Role Model

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary function of red blood cells?

Red blood cells (RBCs) primarily function to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body tissues and carry carbon dioxide, a waste product, from the tissues back to the lungs for exhalation.

What gives red blood cells their red color?

The red color of red blood cells is attributed to the presence of hemoglobin, a protein that binds with oxygen in the lungs and releases it in the tissues. Hemoglobin contains iron, which gives RBCs their characteristic red hue.

Where are red blood cells produced in the body?

Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, specifically in the spongy tissue found within certain bones, such as the sternum, ribs, and pelvis.

What is the average lifespan of a red blood cell?

The average lifespan of a red blood cell is approximately 120 days. After this period, they are removed from circulation and broken down by the spleen and liver, and their components are recycled.

How do red blood cells maintain their unique shape?

Red blood cells have a distinctive biconcave disc shape, which increases their surface area and flexibility. This shape allows them to squeeze through narrow capillaries and facilitates efficient oxygen exchange. The cytoskeleton of red blood cells, especially the protein spectrin, plays a crucial role in maintaining their shape and structural integrity.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Red Blood Cells Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 8, 2024