The suffix -blast refers to what?

• A. Immature cell
• B. Mature tissue
• C. Cell type
• D. Organ function

Answer: (A)

The suffix -blast signals an immature, formative cell—an early precursor that is actively building or forming tissue. It indicates a stage before full maturation, often seen as the cell that will become a specific tissue component. For example, an osteoblast is the immature bone-forming cell that lays down bone matrix and can later become an osteocyte when embedded in bone. Similarly, an erythroblast is a precursor to a mature red blood cell. Because of this, -blast points to an immature cell rather than a mature tissue, a general cell type, or organ function.