1. Formation and Destruction of Red Blood Cells
Process Diagrams Step-by-Step
Copyright © 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2. 1 Key: Red blood cell death and phagocytosis Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Key:
in blood
in bile

3. 2 1 Key: Globin Heme Red blood cell death and phagocytosis
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Key:
in blood
in bile

4. 3 2 1 Key: Amino Reused for protein synthesis acids Globin Heme
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Key:
in blood
in bile

5. 3 4 2 1 Key: Amino Reused for protein synthesis acids Globin Fe3+ Heme
Transferrin 1
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Key:
in blood
in bile

6. 3 4 5 2 1 Key: Amino Reused for protein synthesis acids Globin Fe3+
Heme
Ferritin
Transferrin
Liver 1
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Key:
in blood
in bile

7. 3 6 4 5 2 1 Key: Amino Reused for protein synthesis acids Fe3+
Transferrin
Globin 6 4 5
Fe3+ 2
Heme
Ferritin
Transferrin
Liver 1
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Key:
in blood
in bile

8. 7 3 6 4 5 2 1 Key: Amino acids Reused for protein synthesis Fe3+
Transferrin
Globin 6 4 5
Fe3+ 2
Heme
Ferritin
Fe3+
Transferrin +
Globin +
Liver
Vitamin B12 1
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis +
Erythopoietin
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Key:
in blood
in bile

9. 7 3 6 4 5 2 1 8 Key: Circulation for about 120 days Amino acids
Reused for
protein synthesis
Fe3+
Transferrin
Globin 6 4 5
Fe3+ 2
Heme
Ferritin
Fe3+
Transferrin +
Globin +
Liver
Vitamin B12 1
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis +
Erythopoietin 8
Erythropoiesis in
red bone marrow
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Key:
in blood
in bile

10. 7 3 6 4 5 2 9 1 8 Key: Circulation for about 120 days Amino acids
Reused for
protein synthesis
Fe3+
Transferrin
Globin 6 4 5
Fe3+ 2
Heme
Ferritin
Fe3+
Transferrin +
Globin 9 +
Biliverdin
Bilirubin
Liver
Vitamin B12 1
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis +
Erythopoietin 8
Erythropoiesis in
red bone marrow
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Key:
in blood
in bile

11. 7 3 6 4 5 2 9 1 10 8 Key: Circulation for about 120 days Amino acids
Reused for
protein synthesis
Fe3+
Transferrin
Globin 6 4 5
Fe3+ 2
Heme
Ferritin
Fe3+
Transferrin +
Bilirubin
Globin 9 +
Biliverdin
Bilirubin
Liver
Vitamin B12 1
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis 10 +
Erythopoietin 8
Erythropoiesis in
red bone marrow
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Key:
in blood
in bile

12. 7 3 6 4 5 2 9 11 1 10 8 12 Key: Circulation for about 120 days Amino
acids
Reused for
protein synthesis
Fe3+
Transferrin
Globin 6 4 5
Fe3+ 2
Heme
Ferritin
Fe3+
Transferrin +
Globin 9
Bilirubin +
Biliverdin 1
Bilirubin 11
Liver
Vitamin B12
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis 10 +
Small
intestine
Erythopoietin 8
Erythropoiesis in
red bone marrow
Bilirubin 12
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Urobilinogen
Bacteria
Key:
in blood
Stercobilin
in bile
Feces

13. 7 3 6 4 5 2 9 11 1 10 8 13 12 Key: Circulation for about 120 days
Amino
acids
Reused for
protein synthesis
Fe3+
Transferrin
Globin 6 4 5
Fe3+ 2
Heme
Ferritin
Fe3+
Transferrin +
Bilirubin
Globin 9 +
Biliverdin
Bilirubin 11
Liver
Vitamin B12 1
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis 10 +
Small
intestine
Erythopoietin
Kidney 8
Erythropoiesis in
red bone marrow 13
Bilirubin 12
Urobilin
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Urobilinogen
Bacteria
Key:
in blood
Stercobilin
in bile
Urine
Feces

14. 7 3 6 4 5 2 9 11 1 10 8 13 12 Key: 14 Circulation for about 120 days
Amino
acids
Reused for
protein synthesis
Fe3+
Transferrin
Globin 6 4 5
Fe3+ 2
Heme
Ferritin
Fe3+
Transferrin + 9
Bilirubin
Globin +
Biliverdin
Liver
Vitamin B12 1
Bilirubin 11
Red blood cell
death and
phagocytosis 10 +
Small
intestine
Erythopoietin
Kidney 8
Erythropoiesis in
red bone marrow 13
Bilirubin 12
Urobilin
Macrophage in
spleen, liver, or
red bone marrow
Urobilinogen
Bacteria
Key:
in blood
Stercobilin
Large
intestine 14
in bile
Urine
Feces