A normal M:E ratio is about 3:1. A patient has three times more myeloid precursors than erythroid precursors in the bone marrow because:
A) The body needs more cells to fight infection than to transport oxygen
B) The life cycle of a WBC is much longer than that of an RBC
C) WBCs undergo more steps in hematopoiesis than do RBCs
D) The life cycle of a WBC is much shorter than that of an RBC

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The life cycle of a white blood cell (WBC) is much shorter than that of a red blood cell (RBC), which necessitates the production of more WBCs to maintain normal immune function.

A Normal M:E Ratio Is About 3:1