Are red blood cells called erythrocytes? What are white blood cells called?
1 Answer
Yes, erythrocytes is the term for RBCs (red blood cells), while WBCs (white blood cells) are called leucocytes.
Explanation:
The main cells found in blood are Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, and Platelets, all of which are produced from the same stem cells, maturing differently.
The term Erythrocytes (from the Gk erythros=red and kytos=cell) is used for RBCs because of their characteristic red colour which also gave blood its colour due to their abundance.
The term Leucocytes (from the Gk leukos=white and kytos=cell) is used for WBCs because when blood is separated centrifugally, they appear as a narrow white band.
The third type of cell in blood is the Thrombocytes (from the Gk thrombos=lump/clot), also called Platelets. They are responsible for facilitating clotting of blood in case of wounds or seepage to prevent blood loss.
