Dictionary > Erythroblast

Erythroblast

Definition
noun, plural: erythroblasts
A nucleated red blood cell that develops into a reticulocyte
Supplement
The blood cells of vertebrates are derived from multipotent hematopoietic stem cell. A hemocytoblast is a multipotent hematopoietic stem cell that gives rise to both lymphoid and myeloid stem cells. The myeloid stem cells are progenitor cells that give rise to erythrocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, and megakaryocytes. The process by which a progenitor cell differentiates into an erythrocyte is referred to as erythropoiesis. Erythropoiesis begins in stem cell that gives rise to a series of committed progenitor cells. A proerythroblast is a cell in the earliest stages of erythropoiesis, and serves as the precursor cell for erythroblast (or normoblast).
In humans, both the proerythroblast and the erythroblast are nucleated red blood cells. The terms erythroblasts and normoblasts are sometimes used interchangeably. However, the erythroblasts pertain not just to the normoblasts but also to the megaloblasts. The normoblasts are erythroblasts that would differentiate later into the typical erythrocyte. The megaloblasts, in contrast, are atypically large erythroblasts that would later turn into a megalocyte.
In the course of erythropoiesis, an erythroblast would undergo three stages: early, intermediate, and late. The erythroblast in the early stage is described as basophilic. The one in the intermediate stage is described as polychromatic (or polychromatophilic). The erythroblast in the late stage is described as orthochromatic (or orthochromatophilic). In humans and other mammals, the orthochromatic erythroblast (or normoblast) exudes its nucleus. It turns into an anucleated polychromatic erythrocyte (also called a reticulocyte), which will eventually become the fully differentiated red blood cell, erythrocyte.
Synonym(s):

  • normoblast

See also:

  • blood cell
  • erythropoiesis
  • proerythroblast
  • reticulocyte


  • You will also like...

    Control of body movement
    Control of Body Movement

    Some of the body movements can be controlled at will, others cannot. The body has a motor program, which is the pattern ..

    Circulation
    Circulation

    The circulatory system is key to the transport of vital biomolecules and nutrients throughout the body. Learn about the ..

    Origins of Life on Earth
    Origins of Life on Earth

    Earth was created around 4.5 billion years ago and life began not long after. Primitive life likely possessed the elemen..

    Gene Pool and Speciation
    The Gene Pool and Population Genetics

    According to Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, preferable genes are favored by nature in the gene pool, and ..

    Pikas are an indicator species for climate change
    Indicator Species and Endangered Species

    Certain species are capable of expressing characteristics indicative of the state of the ecosystem they occupy. They are..

    IQ, Creativity and Learning
    IQ, Creativity and Learning

    Human intelligence provided the means to utilize abstract ideas and implement reasoning. This tutorial takes a further l..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics