An adult human body contains roughly between 28 trillion and 36 trillion cells. More specifically, average adult males have about 36 trillion cells, while average adult females have about 28 trillion cells. This estimate comes from a comprehensive analysis of scientific studies covering more than 400 cell types across various tissues in the body.
Key Details:
- The estimate is based on data from over 1,500 scientific papers that analyze cell sizes, counts, and types across multiple tissues.
- The total number of cells varies by sex and individual characteristics, but the overall range is approximately 30 to 40 trillion cells.
- The majority of these cells are small, numerous red blood cells, while larger cells like muscle cells account for a smaller count but significant mass.
- Children have fewer cells, roughly estimated at 17 trillion for a 10-year-old.
This cell count estimation is considered the most current and well-supported scientific consensus as of recent studies.