Red blood cells are also known as erythrocytes and they transport oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and tissues. The production of red blood cells is also known as hematopoiesis ; this process occurs in the bone marrow.
The bonemarrow is found in the spongy tissue in the middle of bones. In this tissue there are pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. This means that they can develop into many different blood cell types (yes there is more than one type of cell found in the blood!).
To become a red blood cell, the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell must first become an uncommitted stem cell. It then forms a committed progenitor cells. These progenitor cells can form red bloodcells, lymphocytes, another white blood cells, and megakaryocytes (the parent cells of platelets).
To form a RBC, the committed progenitor cell must first form a erythroblast, then a reticulocyte, and then finally a erythrocyte (a red blood cell). Red blood cells have an average lifespan of 120 days in the body.
Erythropoeitin can also be used to stimulate RBC production based on low oxygen levels. An increase in RBCs increases oxygen transport in the blood. This is helpful in high performance athletes. Adding RBCs or erythropoetin to the blood stream is called blood doping in professional sports.
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