Difference Between RBCs and WBCs

The main difference between RBCs and WBCs is the difference of their function. RBCs are involved in oxygen transportation to body tissues, while WBCs help fight infection as part of the immune system.

RBC vs WBC

Here are the main differences between RBCs and WBCs:

Characteristic	Red Blood Cells (RBCs)	White Blood Cells (WBCs)
Also known as	Erythrocytes	Leucocytes
Origin	Liver, spleen (embryonic phase), Red bone marrow (after birth)	Red bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen
Process of Formation	Erythropoiesis	Leucopoiesis
Abundance	More abundant	Less abundant
Size	Smaller	Larger
Shape	Biconcave disc-shaped	Irregular or round
Color	Pinkish-brown	Colorless
Hemoglobin	Present	Absent
Nucleus	Absent	Present
Circulatory System	Cardiovascular system	Lymphatic system
Types	Single type	Multiple types
Number Increment	Increases in certain conditions	Increases during infections
Lifespan	Average lifespan of 120 days	Lifespan ranges from 5-21 days
Motility	Non-motile	Motile
Movement	Within cardiovascular system	Between cardiovascular and lymphatic systems
Rouleaux Formation	Forms stacks or aggregations	Does not form stacks or aggregations
Related Disorders	Anemia, thalassemia, polycythemia vera, etc.	Lymphoma, leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
Function	Oxygen transport, blood viscosity	Defense, phagocytosis, antibody production