College of Massage Therapists of British Columbia (CMTBC) Practice Exam

What is the definition of haematopoiesis?

1. Formation of lymphatic components

2. Formation of immune cells

3. Formation of blood cell components

4. Formation of muscle cells

The correct answer is: Formation of blood cell components

Haematopoiesis refers specifically to the process through which blood cells are formed, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This process primarily takes place in the bone marrow, where stem cells differentiate into the various types of blood cells needed for maintaining the body's blood supply and immune function. The other options relate to different biological processes. The formation of lymphatic components involves the development of the lymphatic system, which plays a crucial role in immune function and the return of interstitial fluid to the bloodstream. The formation of immune cells specifically targets the creation of cells responsible for the body’s immune response, which is a subset of the overall haematopoiesis process, but does not encompass all blood cell types. The formation of muscle cells pertains to myogenesis, which is entirely different from haematopoiesis and focuses on forming muscular tissues rather than blood components.