Which cell is a type of lymphocyte derived from lymphoid stem cells?

• A. Natural Killer Cell
• B. Monocyte
• C. Thrombocyte
• D. Erythrocyte

Answer: (A)

Lymphoid stem cells give rise to lymphocytes, including natural killer cells, B cells, and T cells. A natural killer cell is a lymphocyte that develops from the common lymphoid progenitor in the bone marrow and functions in innate immunity by killing virus-infected and stressed cells without prior exposure. Monocytes come from the myeloid lineage and become macrophages or dendritic cells, while erythrocytes and thrombocytes come from myeloid-derived precursors (erythrocyte precursors and megakaryocytes, respectively). So the cell that fits the description is the natural killer cell.