Blood cells. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of two erythrocytes (red blood cells) and a granulocyte (white). Granulocytes are a category

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Blood cells. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of two erythrocytes (red blood cells) and a granulocyte (white). Granulocytes are a category of white blood cell characterized by the presence of enzyme-containing granules in their cytoplasm. They are part of the body's immune system. Erythrocytes are biconcave, giving them a large surface area for gas exchange, and highly elastic, enabling them to pass through narrow capillary vessels. The nucleus and other organelles are lost as the cells mature. The cell's interior is packed with haemoglobin, a red iron-containing pigment that has an oxygen-carrying capacity. The main function of red blood cells is to distribute oxygen to body tissues and to carry waste carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Magnification: x6250 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 4525px × 3898px
Photo credit: © EYE OF SCIENCE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: biological, biology, blood, cell, cells, colored, coloured, erythrocyte, erythrocytes, granulocyte, haematological, haematology, hematological, hematology, immune, immunology, innate, pml, pmn, rbc, rbcs, red, sem, system, white