RBC
Meaning of RBC: RBC abbreviates red blood cell, the abundant blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body.
Definition of RBC
RBC is an abbreviation for red blood cell, also called an erythrocyte, the most numerous cell type circulating in the blood. Its main function is carrying oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body and returning some carbon dioxide to the lungs for exhalation, a task made possible by hemoglobin, the iron-containing protein that fills the cell.
RBC also appears on laboratory reports as a heading for red blood cell count, one of the standard measurements included in a complete blood count. This value, along with related measurements such as hemoglobin and hematocrit, helps assess whether the blood is carrying an adequate supply of oxygen-carrying cells.
A red blood cell lacks a nucleus and survives in circulation for a limited period before being broken down and replaced, a continuous turnover carried out by the bone marrow, which produces new red blood cells throughout life.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The complete blood count showed an RBC count within the expected range.
Good to know
RBC count reflects the number of circulating red blood cells, which is related to but distinct from hemoglobin concentration, since the two values can be discordant when individual cells carry more or less hemoglobin than usual.