Final answer:
3) Large The size of reticulocytes is generally larger than that of mature red blood cells, due to their status as immature erythrocytes still containing organelle remnants. Thus, the correct answer is 'large'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The size of reticulocytes can be determined as being generally larger than most mature red blood cells (RBCs) or erythrocytes. Reticulocytes are immature erythrocytes and contain remnants of organelles such as ribosomes, which are lost as the cells mature.
A common diagnostic test called the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) measures the size of red blood cells, with macrocytic referring to larger-than-normal cells, normocytic to normal-sized, and microcytic to smaller-than-normal.
Since reticulocytes are still in the maturation process and contain some remnants of organelles, they present as slightly larger than mature erythrocytes, which lack these organelles and have more room for hemoglobin. Therefore, the answer to the student's question about the size of reticulocytes is large (option 3).
Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells that still contain remnants of organelles. They can be identified on a blood smear as large RBCs with a bluish cytoplasm. The size of reticulocytes varies between species, but in humans, they are considered medium-sized cells.