Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Hematopoietic Biology

Top 10 Commonly Confused Words in Hematopoietic Biology 1. Hematopoiesis vs. Hemostasis Often, students confuse hematopoiesis with hemostasis. While hematopoiesis refers to the process of blood cell formation, hemostasis is the body's mechanism to stop bleeding. Remember, hematopoiesis is about cell production, while hemostasis is about clotting. 2. Erythrocytes vs. Leukocytes Erythrocytes and leukocytes are two types of blood cells, but they have different functions. Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, transport oxygen, while leukocytes, or white blood cells, are involved in the immune response. So, erythrocytes are for oxygen, and leukocytes are for immunity. 3. Myeloid vs. Lymphoid When it comes to cell lineages, myeloid and lymphoid are often confused. Myeloid cells give rise to red blood cells, platelets, and certain types of white blood cells. On the other hand, lymphoid cells are responsible for producing lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Remember, myeloid is for red cells, platelets, and some white cells, while lymphoid is for lymphocytes. 4. Hemoglobin vs. Hematocrit Hemoglobin and hematocrit are both related to blood, but they measure different things. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, while hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume. So, hemoglobin is about oxygen-carrying, and hematocrit is about red cell percentage.