Changes

Erythrocytes have a limited life span and as they age their membranes become more fragile leading to a loss of function and swelling. Damage occurs as the fragile cells pass through narrow capillaries which occurs particularly in the [[Spleen - Anatomy & Physiology#Erythrocytes & Platelets|spleen]]. Ageing also causes sialic acid to be lost from the membrane and this exposes galactose moieties leading to phagocytosis.

Erythrocytes have a limited life span and as they age their membranes become more fragile leading to a loss of function and swelling. Damage occurs as the fragile cells pass through narrow capillaries which occurs particularly in the [[Spleen - Anatomy & Physiology#Erythrocytes & Platelets|spleen]]. Ageing also causes sialic acid to be lost from the membrane and this exposes galactose moieties leading to phagocytosis.

===Life Span===

===Life Span===

The life span of the erythrocyte varies from 70-160 days in the domestic species although the life span is often shorter in the juvenile animals (e.g. calves and lambs) than the adult. Small animal’s erythrocytes have a shorter life span than the larger domestic species.

The life span of the erythrocyte varies from 70-160 days in domestic species although the life span is often shorter in juvenile animals (e.g. calves and lambs) compared to adult animals. Erythrocytes in small animals have a shorter life span than in the larger domestic species.

{| border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1"  

{| border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1"  

!style="color:black;background-color:#FFC1C1;" colspan="7"|Life span (days)

!style="color:black;background-color:#FFC1C1;" colspan="7"|Life span (days)