Final answer:
The destruction of red cells in hereditary spherocytosis is caused by phagocytosis by splenic macrophages due to the abnormal shape of the cells, which makes them more likely to be trapped and destroyed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The destruction of red blood cells in hereditary spherocytosis is primarily caused by phagocytosis by splenic macrophages. In hereditary spherocytosis, the red blood cells (RBCs) are abnormally shaped, lacking the usual biconcave disc shape, and are more spherical. This abnormal shape renders the RBCs more prone to being trapped and destroyed by macrophages in the spleen. Unlike other cases where the destruction can be caused by complement activation and bound autoantibodies such as during mismatched blood transfusion reactions or hemolytic disease of the newborn, in hereditary spherocytosis the cause is generally not immune-related but rather a structural defect that leads to their premature removal and destruction.