LM of red blood cells in a blood smear

Credit: SCIENCE PICTURES LTD/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Caption: Red blood cells. Light micrograph of a human blood smear showing red blood cells (erythrocytes). Red blood cells are the most abundant type of blood cell in human blood. Every cubic millimetre of blood contains around 5 million of these tiny, flexible, biconcave disc-like cells. The cells have no nucleus. The red colour comes from the pigment haemoglobin which picks up oxygen in the lungs and distributes it around the body. As red blood cells are subjected to constant physical pounding in the blood vessels, they have a short lifespan. After about four months they are broken down and replaced. Magnification: x400 at 35mm size.

Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.

Keywords: anatomy, blood cell, cells, erythrocyte, human body, light micrograph, red, red blood cell, smear

Licence fees: A licence fee will be charged for any media (low or high resolution) used in your project.