Orthochromatic erythroblast

Definition

An orthochromatic erythroblast is a late-stage red blood cell precursor that is in the final stages of maturation before becoming a mature erythrocyte, or red blood cell. This cell type is characterized by its reduced cytoplasmic basophilia and increased hemoglobin content, which gives it a more uniform, pink-red staining appearance under a microscope.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Orthochromatic erythroblasts are the penultimate stage in the maturation of red blood cells, just before the cell becomes a reticulocyte.
2. The reduced cytoplasmic basophilia of the orthochromatic erythroblast is due to the loss of ribosomes and other organelles as the cell prepares to extrude its nucleus.
3. Orthochromatic erythroblasts have a high hemoglobin content, which gives them their characteristic pink-red staining appearance under a microscope.
4. The transition from a polychromatophilic erythroblast to an orthochromatic erythroblast marks the final stages of erythropoiesis, the process of red blood cell production.
5. Orthochromatic erythroblasts are found primarily in the bone marrow, where red blood cell maturation takes place.

Review Questions

• Describe the key features that distinguish an orthochromatic erythroblast from earlier stages of red blood cell development.
  • The orthochromatic erythroblast is characterized by its reduced cytoplasmic basophilia and increased hemoglobin content compared to earlier red blood cell precursors like the polychromatophilic erythroblast. This gives the orthochromatic erythroblast a more uniform, pink-red staining appearance under a microscope, as it is in the final stages of maturation before becoming a reticulocyte and then a mature erythrocyte.
• Explain the role of the orthochromatic erythroblast within the broader process of erythropoiesis.
  • The orthochromatic erythroblast represents the penultimate stage in the maturation of red blood cells. It marks the transition from a cell with a more basophilic (blue-purple) cytoplasm, indicative of the presence of ribosomes and other organelles, to a cell with a more uniform, pink-red staining appearance due to the increased hemoglobin content. This shift in cellular characteristics is a key milestone in the process of erythropoiesis, as the cell prepares to extrude its nucleus and be released into the bloodstream as a reticulocyte and then a mature erythrocyte.
• Analyze the significance of the orthochromatic erythroblast in the context of red blood cell production and function.
  • The orthochromatic erythroblast is a critical intermediate stage in the production of mature red blood cells, or erythrocytes. As the cell transitions from a polychromatophilic erythroblast to an orthochromatic erythroblast, it undergoes important changes that prepare it for its final maturation and release into the bloodstream. The loss of organelles and increased hemoglobin content allow the orthochromatic erythroblast to efficiently carry oxygen, the primary function of erythrocytes. Understanding the characteristics and role of the orthochromatic erythroblast is essential for comprehending the overall process of erythropoiesis and the development of functional red blood cells.

Related terms

Erythropoiesis:

The process of red blood cell production and maturation in the bone marrow.

Polychromatophilic erythroblast:

An earlier stage red blood cell precursor that has a more basophilic (blue-purple) cytoplasm due to the presence of ribosomes and other organelles.

Reticulocyte:

The final immature stage of the red blood cell before it is released into the bloodstream as a mature erythrocyte, characterized by the presence of a reticular network of RNA in the cytoplasm.