Our Red Blood Cell is the life of the party - invite him to your next biological bash and you'll have a bloody good time! Our Red Blood Cell is soft, cuddly and serves as a great reminder to love your blood, be healthy, and donate.

All About the Red Blood Cell (Erythrocyte)

FACTS: Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, contain the hemoglobin that carries oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body. (Erythro means red in Greek, and cyte translates to cell.) Hemoglobin gives red blood cells their characteristic color. When it is oxygen-rich, it appears reddish; when oxygen-poor, it is darker and bluish.

Although erythrocytes are flexible (which permits them to squeeze through capillaries), they typically have a distinctive biconcave shape that helps maximize surface area to facilitate the exchange of gases.

Red blood cells are produced in bone marrow. It takes about a week to make one, and they last for about 3 to 4 months. When time's up, the liver or spleen deliver the coup de grace. (If red blood cell counts get too low Red Blood Cell Plush