PROTOMETROCYTE Meaning and
Definition
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A protometrocyte, also known as proerythroblast, is a precursor cell in the process of erythropoiesis, which is the generation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. It is an intermediate stage between the hematopoietic stem cell and the erythroblast. The term "proto" signifies its status as an early or developing cell.
These protometrocytes are round, nucleated cells typically found in the bone marrow. They are the earliest cells committed to becoming red blood cells, and their formation is regulated by specific growth factors and hormones. Protometrocytes undergo a series of maturation steps during erythropoiesis to eventually become mature and functional red blood cells.
During the maturation process, protometrocytes gradually decrease in size and lose their nucleus. They synthesize and accumulate hemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood. As they mature, other organelles and cellular components are modified or eliminated. This transformation is crucial for their function as oxygen carriers, as it increases their flexibility and surface area-to-volume ratio.
The production of protometrocytes is tightly regulated to maintain a balanced pool of functional red blood cells. Abnormalities in the formation or maturation of protometrocytes can lead to various disorders, such as anemia, in which a person lacks a sufficient number of properly functioning red blood cells. Understanding the biology of protometrocytes and their differentiation process is essential for diagnosing and treating these hematological conditions.
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The mother cell of the protoleucocyte and protoerythrocyte, or of the cells of the leucocyte and hemoglobin series.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PROTOMETROCYTE
- protometrocype
- protometrocyve
- protometrocyue
- protometrocytu
- protometrocytm
- protometrocyta
- protometrocytg
- protwometrocyte
- pr otometrocyte
- pro tometrocyte
- prot ometrocyte
- proto metrocyte
- protom etrocyte
- protome trocyte
- protomet rocyte
- protometr ocyte
- protometro cyte
- protometroc yte
- protometrocy te
- protometrocyt e
Etymology of PROTOMETROCYTE
The word "protometrocyte" is a hybrid word derived from several roots.
1. "Proto-" is a Greek prefix meaning "first" or "primitive". It is often used to indicate something that is early or undeveloped.
2. "Metro-" is also a Greek prefix meaning "womb" or "uterus". It is commonly used in medical terms relating to the uterus or the female reproductive system.
3. "-cyte" is a common suffix in biology, derived from Greek "kytos", meaning "cell". It indicates a type of cell or a cell-related structure.
Therefore, "protometrocyte" can be understood to refer to a primitive or early form of a cell related to the uterus or female reproductive system.
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