Erythrocyte

a mature red blood cell

Description
Erythrocytes are the most common type of blood cells and common to all vertebrates for the capture of oxygen (in mammals: in the pulmonary alveoli) and its transport to body tissues by blood circulation. Their chief component is hemoglobin, an iron-protein complex specialised in the temporary binding of oxygen. In mammals, mature erythrocytes are anucleate (not containing a nucleus and genomic DNA) and have lost their organelles; they have therefore a limited life span and capacity for biosynthesis. In human they are circular, biconcave disks, but their morphology and consequently their passage through blood vessels may be impaired by disease conditions, such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia. Syn red blood cell, hemocyte, red corpuscle, hemacyte