The process of erythrocyte production is called erythropoiesis. The hormone that stimulates erythropoiesis is called erythropoietin and is produced in the kidney. The average life span of a red blood cell is 120 days. Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, make up the largest population of blood cells, numbering from 4.5 million to 6 million per cubic millimeter of blood. Their principal function is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide. The hemoglobin molecules in erythrocytes combine with oxygen in the lungs to form oxyhemoglobin. The oxygen is transported in this state to the tissues of the body. In the tissues, the oxygen is released to diffuse into the interstitial fluid. Within the tissues, carbon dioxide is combined with the hemoglobin molecules to form carbaminohemoglobin, which is transported to the lungs. Note: About 70% of carbon dioxide, however, is transported by the blood plasma as bicarbonate ions (HCO;). Remember: (1) The proportion of erythrocytes in a sample of blood is called the hematocrit — usually around 46% for males and 40% for females. (2) The precursor cell found in the red bone marrow that gives rise to all of the formed elements of the blood is the hematocytoblast (these are pluripotent stem cells), which gives rise to various committed multipotent progenitor cells (aka Colony-forming cells or CFC), which then give rise to the different types of formed elements. Note: Granulocyte Colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is the hormone that stimulates precursor cells in the bone marrow to differentiate into white blood cells (/ewkocytes). Basophils BLOOD LEUKOCYTES FORMED 8% of ELEMENTS . body VOLUME (number per cubic mm) Neutrophils weight 60-70% Plasma Leukocytes > Lymphocytes 4to 6 liters |—> 55% 5,000-10,000 20-30% Monocytes Temp = Formed hl Platelets 2-6% 38°C Elements 250,000-400,000 Eosinophils 45% 1-4% pH of 7.35 Erythrocytes Basophils To 7.45 4,3-5.8 million 0-1% Important: The mnemonic “Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas” identifies the order o abundance of leukocytes. Note: The term leukocyte refers to all types of white blood cells as listed above, whil the term granulocyte refers only to those containing visible cytoplasmic granules. Th granulocytes are the neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils