B cell development in the bone marrow

All blood cells are derived from pluripotent stem cells found in the bone marrow. These pluripotent stem cells differentiate into two types of specialised stem cells: lymphoid and myeloid stem cells (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Haematopoietic stem cell lineage

B cells (or lymphocytes) develop from lymphoid stem cells in the bone marrow. Lymphoid stem cells can also give rise to T cells (Figure 2).

Figure 2: B Cell development in the bone marrow