monoblast

An immature cell that develops into a monocyte. [mono- + G. blastos, germ]

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mono·blast 'män-ə-.blast n a motile cell of the spleen and bone marrow that gives rise to the monocyte of the circulating blood

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n.

the earliest identifiable cell that gives rise to a monocyte. It is probably identical with the myeloblast and matures via an intermediate stage (promonocyte). It is normally found in the blood-forming tissue of the bone marrow but may appear in the blood in certain diseases, most notably in acute monoblastic leukaemia.

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mono·blast (monґo-blast) [mono- + -blast] the earliest precursor in the monocytic series, which matures to develop into the promonocyte; it has a fine chromatin structure and nucleoli are usually visible. Monoblasts are not normally seen in the bone marrow or peripheral blood, but may be seen in myelogenous leukemia.