Patient Description

There are other organs and systems in our bodies that help regulate blood cells. The lymph nodes, spleen, and liver help regulate the production, destruction, and function of cells. The production and development of new cells in the bone marrow is a process called hematopoiesis.Blood cells formed in the bone marrow start out as stem cells. A stem cell (or hematopoietic stem cell) is the first phase of all blood cells. As the stem cell matures, several distinct cells evolve. These include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Immature blood cells are also called blasts. Some blasts stay in the marrow to mature. Others travel to other parts of the body to develop into mature, functioning blood cells.