US Medical Term · anatomy
Red Blood Cells
Glóbulos rojos
Also: Eritrocitos (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Red Blood Cells |
| Spanish (Español) | Glóbulos rojos |
| Chinese (中文) | 紅血球 |
| Korean (한국어) | 적혈구 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Hồng cầu |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Pulang selula ng dugo |
| Portuguese (Português) | Hemácias |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | เม็ดเลือดแดง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 赤血球 |
What it means
Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell in the body. Their main job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to every organ and tissue, and to bring carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled. They get their red color from hemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen. Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow and live for about 120 days before being replaced. A low red blood cell count is called anemia, which can cause fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. Conditions like iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, and chronic kidney disease can reduce production of red blood cells.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My blood test showed my red blood cells are low — my doctor said I may have anemia.
El análisis de sangre mostró que los glóbulos rojos están bajos — el médico dijo que puede que tenga anemia.
Why are my red blood cells smaller than normal on my blood test?
¿Por qué los glóbulos rojos son más pequeños de lo normal en mi análisis de sangre?
I feel very tired — could it be because my red blood cells are low?
Me siento muy cansado — ¿podría ser porque los glóbulos rojos están bajos?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026