The Journey of Ruby the Red Blood Cell
Published on Nov 27, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
The Journey of Ruby the Red Blood Cell
Photo by Murtada al Mousawy
I develop in red bone marrow from hematopoietic stem cells and have proteins called hemoglobin inside me! After about 7 days growing in bone marrow, I jump into the bloodstream with all my other friends!
From there, I start the process of pulmonary circulation. I am carried by the superior vena cava to the right atrium where pressure builds and I am shoved out into the right ventricle
I then take a trip through the pulmonary artery and into the lungs where I switch out the carbon dioxide I carry with oxygen in the alveoli. Hemoglobin makes this easy because it attracts the oxygen.
Fully oxygenated, I swim with the rest of the blood through pulmonary veins and enter the left atrium of the heart. When the pressure becomes too much, I move into the left ventricle. Then, this chamber contracts and I get sent off to the aorta.
Photo by Andrew Mason
Then, I leave the heart and travel to capillaries while giving away my oxygen and picking up carbon dioxide.
Photo by Tim Green aka atoach
