They are found primarily in blood and lymph. Leukocytes are an integral part of the body’s immune system. Lymphocyte (lympho – cyte) – type of immune cell that includes B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells. Megakaryocyte (mega – karyo – cyte) – large cell in bone marrow that produces platelets.

What are Cyte cells?

cyte: A suffix denoting a cell. Derived from the Greek “kytos” meaning “hollow, as a cell or container.” From the same root come the prefix “cyto-” and the combining form “-cyto” which similarly denote a cell.

What is the function of the Cyte cells?

The living cells found in connective tissue mostly work to produce, maintain or break down the matrix. Blast cells build new matrix, cyte cells maintain existing matrix and clast cells break down matrix. These are roots, so we usually add a prefix with them.

-blast refers to the committed, not terminally differentiated precursor cell in a given lineage of cells. -cyte refers to the terminally differentiated cell. For example, during skeletal muscle differentiation, myoblasts fuse together to form multinucleated myocytes that become the individual fibers of the muscles.