Question:easy

Which one of the following cell types is the most abundant in healthy adult human blood?

Show Hint

Compare typical cell counts per microliter of blood for each cell type listed.
Updated On: Aug 7, 2026
  • Erythrocytes
  • Lymphocytes
  • Basophils
  • Neutrophils
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall the concept of hematocrit.
The hematocrit is the percentage of blood volume made up of red blood cells (erythrocytes). In a healthy adult, hematocrit is about 40% to 45%, meaning nearly half of the blood's volume is packed with erythrocytes alone.

Step 2: Compare cell counts numerically.
A normal adult has roughly $5 \times 10^6$ erythrocytes per microliter of blood.
By contrast, total white blood cells (lymphocytes, basophils, and neutrophils combined) number only about $4 \times 10^3$ to $1.1 \times 10^4$ per microliter.
The ratio of erythrocytes to all white blood cells combined is roughly $\frac{5 \times 10^6}{10^4} \approx 500$.

Step 3: Rank the four given options by this count.
Erythrocytes: about $5 \times 10^6$ per microliter, highest by far.
Neutrophils: about $2.5$ to $7 \times 10^3$ per microliter, the most common white cell, but still small next to erythrocytes.
Lymphocytes: about $1$ to $4 \times 10^3$ per microliter.
Basophils: less than $100$ per microliter, the rarest of the four.

Step 4: Pick the correct option.
Since erythrocytes outnumber every white cell type by several hundred times, they are the most abundant cell in blood. This corresponds to option (A).

Final Answer:
Erythrocytes are the most abundant cell type in healthy adult human blood.
\[ \boxed{\text{Erythrocytes}} \]
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