Red Blood Cells are produced in the liver and spleen of the fetus.After birth the bone marrow is the site of formation of Red Blood Cells.Until adolescence the bone marrow of all bones produces Red Blood Cells.
By the age of 20,the marrow is in the cavities of long bones exept the upper humerous and femur becomes infiltrated with fat and produces more red cells.After the age of 20 the marrow of the flat bones is the only site of formation of Red Blood Cells.
Factors affecting the Formation of Red Blood Cells:
-Healthy bone marrow
-Healthy liver
-Hormones
-Diet :Proteins,Iron,Vitamins
-Tissue oxygenation.
1.Healthy Bone Marrow:
A healthy bone marrow is essential for the production of red cells.Bone marrow is destroyd by X-ray,atomic radiation,drugs as CHLORAMPHENICOL and by malignant tumours.
2.Healthy liver:
The liver is important for the formation of red blood cells because:
-it acts as a store of Vitamin B12
-it acts as a store of iron
-it is the site of formation of globin part of hemoglobin molecule.
3.Hormones:
Hormones regulate the metabolic processes in various tissues including the bone marrow.Thus,thyroid hormones,androgens and gluccorticoids stimulate formation of red cells.
4.Diet:
Because of the continuing need to replenish red blood cells,the cells of the bone marrow are among the most rapidly growing and reproducing cells of the entire body.Therefore,as would be expected,their maturation and rate of production is affected greatly by a person's nutritional status.
-Proteins: Proteins of high biological value are needed in the diet to build globin of hemoglobin.Defeciency of proteins in the diet leads to failure of formation of red blood cells.
-Iron: Iron is important for the formation of hemoglobin,myoglobin and other substances such as cytocromes,cytocromes oxydase,peroxidase and catalase enzyme.
-Vitamin B12: All vitamins are needed for formation of red blod cells,but vitamin B12 and folic acid are especcilay important for final maturation of the red cells.
Vitamin B12 contains COBALT and is important for DNA formation.
5.Tissue Oxygenation:
Any condition that cause the amont of oxygen transported to the tissue to decrease will increase the rateof red blood cells production.This can occur in the fallowing conditions:
-at high altitudes where the oxygen pressure is the atmospheric air is decreased thus decreasing oxygen supply to the tissue.
-various diseases as prolonged heart failure and lung diseases.
-increased demand for oxygen as in athletes and hard workers.
READ ALSO:
Importance of Iron in Diet in Formation of Red Blood Cells
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