Question

Choose the answer that most correctly completes the sentence.

"RBCs have a life span of _______, and when they break down they produce _______."

A. One year, oxyhemoglobin
B. Six months, ammonia
C. Four months, bilirubin
D. Two months, biliverdin

Answer 1

The life span of RBCs is approximately four months, and their breakdown produces bilirubin. The correct answer is C. Four months, bilirubin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question "RBCs have a life span of _______, and when they break down they produce _______." is C. Four months, bilirubin. Red blood cells (RBCs) have an average life span of 120 days, which equates to about four months. They are predominantly destroyed in the liver and spleen.

When RBCs break down, they release hemoglobin, which is then processed into different substances, including bilirubin. A significant increase in the level of bilirubin can lead to jaundice, which is characterized by a yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes.