A young anucleate erythrocyte is called a reticulocyte.
Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells that are produced in the bone marrow. They do have some remnants of organelles and ribosomal RNA, which is what gives them their name, as ‘reticulum’ refers to the network of ribosomal RNA. As these cells mature, they lose their organelles and become fully functional erythrocytes, or red blood cells, which play a crucial role in transporting oxygen throughout the body.
When the body needs to produce more red blood cells, such as during anemia or after blood loss, the bone marrow increases the production of reticulocytes. This is an important indicator in blood tests to assess how well the body is producing red blood cells. A higher number of reticulocytes in the blood can signify the body’s response to increased demand for red blood cells.