Citation
Primitive and Definitive Erythropoiesis in Mammals
TL;DR
Approximately 2 million red blood cells enter circulation every second
Documents that approximately 2 million red blood cells enter circulation from bone marrow every second in healthy adults. This establishes the staggering scale of controlled cellular production - your body creates millions of cells per second yet maintains stable size because growth is regulated, concentrated, and responsive to feedback. The contrast between this controlled production and cancerous uncontrolled growth is central to the chapter's thesis.
Key Findings from Palis (2014)
- Approximately 2 million red blood cells enter circulation every second
- The same number are cleared, maintaining homeostatic balance
- Demonstrates massive scale of controlled cell production in normal physiology