Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, are small, disc-shaped cells in the blood that transport oxygen around the body. They contain a protein called haemoglobin, which binds to oxygen in the lungs and carries it to the body’s tissues and organs. Red blood cells do not have a nucleus, which allows more space for haemoglobin, and they are flexible so they can pass through narrow capillaries. This helps deliver oxygen efficiently and also allows the cells to pick up carbon dioxide for removal from the body. Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow and usually live for about 120 days before being broken down and recycled.
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