Final answer:
Old and damaged red blood cells are usually phagocytized by macrophages in the bone marrow, liver, and spleen, with the spleen acting as a key organ in filtering and removing these cells from circulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Old and damaged erythrocytes, commonly known as red blood cells, are typically phagocytized, which means consumed and digested, by a type of white blood cell known as a macrophage. These macrophages are primarily located in the bone marrow, liver, and spleen. Red blood cells have a lifespan of approximately 120 days, after which they are removed from circulation by these macrophages. The spleen in particular acts as a blood filter, where it removes old and damaged red blood cells from the blood. This organ plays a crucial role in the quality control of red blood cells and also recycles components from the degraded cells, such as iron from hemoglobin.