myelocyte

noun

my·​e·​lo·​cyte ˈmī-ə-lə-ˌsīt 

: a bone-marrow cell

especially : a motile cell with cytoplasmic granules that gives rise to the granulocytes of the blood and occurs abnormally in the circulating blood (as in myelogenous leukemia)

myelocytic

ˌmī-ə-lə-ˈsi-tik 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Myelocyt, from myelo- myelo- + -cyt -cyte

Note: In the given sense the term was apparently introduced by Paul ehrlich in "Ueber die Bedeutung der neutrophilen Körnung," Charité-Annalen, 12. Jahrgang (1887), p. 295. In the text of the article the word is spelled Myklozythen (plural) for expected Myelocythen, presumably as a result of a typesetting error.

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

myelocyte

noun

my·​e·​lo·​cyte ˈmī-ə-lə-ˌsīt 

: a bone marrow cell

especially : a motile cell with cytoplasmic granules that gives rise to the blood granulocytes and occurs abnormally in the circulating blood (as in myelogenous leukemia)

myelocytic

ˌmī-ə-lə-ˈsit-ik 

adjective