Final answer:
The commonly used prefixes for immature connective tissue cells are '-blast' (e.g., fibroblasts) while mature cells use the suffix '-cyte' (e.g., fibrocytes). Cells transition from '-blast' to '-cyte' under the influence of hemopoietic growth factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prefixes that are commonly used to describe immature and mature cells of connective tissue are '-blast' and '-cyte', respectively. In the formation of connective tissue, precursor cells named with the '-blast' suffix, like fibroblasts, differentiate into mature cells, which often carry the '-cyte' suffix, such as fibrocytes. For example, fibroblasts are immature cells that produce the extracellular matrix and play a pivotal role in healing wounds, whereas fibrocytes are their mature counterparts, maintaining the structural integrity of connective tissues.
Other stem cells like lymphoid and myeloid stem cells follow a similar pattern, differentiating from precursor cells into mature blood cells. The precursor stages are marked by names ending in '-blast' such as megakaryoblasts that eventually mature into megakaryocytes, a type of blood cell. The transition from stem cells to mature cells is governed by hemopoietic growth factors.