What does myeloid mean?
Myeloid is an adjective used in medicine and biology for things relating to bone marrow or to the blood cells produced there. More specifically, it describes the myeloid series, which includes granulocytes and monocytes, cells involved in immune defence and the inflammatory response. It is frequently encountered in clinical names such as myeloid leukemia, a group of cancers affecting blood-forming cells, and myeloid sarcoma, a rare tumor of myeloid cells outside the marrow. The term is technical and belongs mainly to hematology, pathology, and oncology rather than everyday speech. Its root is Greek myelos, meaning “bone marrow,” combined with the suffix -oid, meaning “resembling” or “of the nature of.” In modern usage, “myeloid” is often distinguished from “lymphoid,” which refers to lymphocytes and the tissues or disorders associated with them. In cancer terminology, related expressions such as “acute” and “chronic” further identify the disease course, while “myelogenous” is frequently used in formal classifications.
adjectiveRelating to or derived from bone marrow, especially to the cells and tissues that develop into white blood cells other than lymphocytes. The term is also used in the names of cancers involving abnormal marrow-derived cells.
- Relating to or derived from bone marrow.
- Relating specifically to the myeloid series of blood cells, including granulocytes and monocytes.
- Relating to a myeloid malignancy, such as myeloid leukemia.
"The biopsy showed that she had myeloid leukemia, a cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow."
"Myeloid cells circulate in the blood and help defend the body against infection."
"The report described the tumor as a rare myeloid sarcoma involving tissue outside the bone marrow."
The word 'myeloid' ultimately points back to marrow: Greek myelos means 'bone marrow,' the place where many of the body's white blood cells are made.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does myeloid come from?
Myeloid was formed in the 19th century from Greek myelos, meaning “bone marrow,” with the suffix -oid. The underlying Greek word refers to the marrow or the spinal cord, and appears in related medical terms such as myeloma and myelogram. In modern biological usage, the adjective became closely associated with the myeloid series of blood cells and with cancers involving marrow-derived cells.
How myeloid is actually used
This is a technical medical and biological term. It is most often used in hematology, pathology, and oncology, and is not normally used in general conversation.
Easily confused with myeloid
Both terms can refer to the production of blood cells in bone marrow, but 'myeloid' is the more general adjective, while 'myelogenous' is commonly used in formal cancer classifications and compound terms.