Haemolysis | Where do RBC get destroyed? | What happens when RBC breakdown?

 

Fig :Route of RBC destruction.

•  Process of destruction of RBC and products formed by it. 

In humans, RBCs are  disc-shaped,

 circular and biconcave shaped. They

 have no nuclei . The life span of

 erythrocytes is about 120

 days and their breakdown, or

 haemolysis, is carried out by phagocytic

 reticuloendothelial cells. These cells are

 found in many tissues but the main sites

 of haemolysis are the spleen, bone

 marrow and liver. As erythrocytes age,

 their cell membranes become more

 fragile and so more susceptible to

 haemolysis. Iron released by haemolysis

 is retained in the body and reused in the

 bone marrow to form new haemoglobin

 molecules. Biliverdin is formed from the

 Haem part of the haemoglobin. It is

 almost completely reduced to the yellow

 pigment bilirubin, before being bound to

 plasma globulin and transported to the

 liver. In the liver it is changed from a fat

 -soluble to a water-soluble form to be

 excreted as a constituent of bile.