The destruction or breakdown of red blood cells, which releases hemoglobin into the surrounding fluid.
From Greek erythro- (red) + cyto- (cell) + -lysis (breaking apart or dissolution). The term combines ancient Greek medical terminology with the suffix -lysis, which became standard in scientific nomenclature during the 1800s when microscopy revealed cellular structures.
Erythrocytolysis is what happens when your red blood cells literally burst like water balloons—and it can trigger serious conditions like jaundice because of the hemoglobin release. This is why blood transfusions must match blood types: mismatched blood causes massive erythrocytolysis that can kill you.
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