Where are red blood cells produced? How is the production of red blood cells controlled?
Red blood cells are produced in the red bone marrow. Erythropoietin from the kidney is released in response to lowering oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. This stimulates the red bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. Increased oxygen carrying capacity inhibits erythropoietin production by the kidneys. • Describe what happens to worn or damaged red blood cells and their hemoglobin. The liver and spleen function in destroying red blood cells. They “get stuck” in these organs where macrophages destroy them. The hemoglobin is broken down into its component amino acids and bilirubin. • Why would pernicious anemia be treated with regular injections of vitamin instead of by dietary supplements of this vitamin? They cannot absorb Vitamin B12 so they need injections of this vitamin. • What determines a person’s blood type? Your blood type is the antigen that exists on the blood cell surface. There are A-antigens and B-antigens for A, B, and AB blood types. Type O blood has no antigen
