Reticulocyte | |
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Details | |
Gives rise to | Red blood cells |
Location | Bone marrow (most), blood (some) |
Identifiers | |
Latin | reticulocytus |
MeSH | D012156 |
TH | H2.00.04.1.01007 |
FMA | 66785 |
Anatomical terms of microanatomy |
In hematology, reticulocytes are immature red blood cells (RBCs). In the process of erythropoiesis (red blood cell formation), reticulocytes develop and mature in the bone marrow and then circulate for about a day in the blood stream before developing into mature red blood cells. Like mature red blood cells, in mammals, reticulocytes do not have a cell nucleus. They are called reticulocytes because of a reticular (mesh-like) network of ribosomal RNA that becomes visible under a microscope with certain stains such as new methylene blue and Romanowsky stain.