Definition

A hormone made by the kidneys that helps the body produce more red blood cells when oxygen levels are low.

Example

Doctors may prescribe erythropoietin to patients with anemia to help increase their red blood cell count.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of erythropoietin?

Yeah, isn’t it the hormone that helps produce red blood cells?

Exactly! It’s produced by the kidneys when oxygen levels are low.

That’s fascinating — I didn't realize it played such a crucial role!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Erythropoietin is formed from "erythro-" (from Greek "erythros", meaning red) and "poietin" (from Greek "poiein", meaning to make or to produce). The word refers to a substance that produces red blood cells.

Memory Tip

Think of 'red' ('erythro-') and 'making' ('poietin') to remember that erythropoietin is a substance that helps produce red blood cells.

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