Anemia

Anemia can result from a rapid loss of blood cells as with trauma, from a reduced rate of replacement, or from an abnormally rapid destruction of blood cells within the body that outstrips the replacement ability of bone marrow.

Normally the red blood cell count for an adult male is 5.4 million per cubic mm of blood at sea level. The count for the adult female is 4.8 million per cubic mm. An adult male is considered anemic if his red cell count falls below 4.5 million per cubic mm, and the female if her count is less than 4 million per cubic mm. The normal rate of replacement for red blood cells is 40,000 to 50,000 new cells per cubic mm per day. Blood cells are generated within the bone marrow.