Blood

Coagulation

(also known as clotting) is the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a blood clot. It potentially results in hemostasis, the cessation of blood loss from a damaged vessel, followed by repair.

Prothrombin

A coagulation (clotting) factor that is needed for the normal clotting of blood. A cascade of biochemical events leads to the formation of the final clot. In this cascade, prothrombin is a precursor to thrombin. Prothrombin is transformed into thrombin by a clotting factor known as factor X or prothrombinase; thrombin then acts to transform fibrinogen, also present in plasma, into fibrin, which, in combination with platelets from the blood, forms a clot (a process called coagulation).

Anemia

A condition in which the blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. Having anemia may make you feel tired and weak. There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Anemia can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe. Anemia occurs when your blood doesn't have enough red blood cells. This can happen if your body doesn't make enough red blood cells, bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced, and your body destroys red blood cells.

Physiologic Jaundice

A newborn's immature liver often can't remove bilirubin quickly enough, causing an excess of bilirubin. Jaundice due to these normal newborn conditions is called physiologic jaundice, and it typically appears on the second or third day of life.

Granulocytes

A type of white blood cell that is filled with microscopic granules, little sacs containing enzymes that digest microorganisms. Granulocytes are part of the innate immune system, and they have somewhat nonspecific, broad-based activity.

Agglutination

Agglutination is the process that occurs if an antigen is mixed with its corresponding antibody called isoagglutinin. This term is commonly used in blood grouping. This occurs in biology in three main examples: The clumping of cells such as bacteria or red blood cells in the presence of an antibody or complement. The blood will agglutinate if the antigens in the patient's blood match the antibodies in the test tube. A antibodies attach to A antigens - they match like a lock and key - and thus form a clump of red blood cells. In the same way B antibodies attach to B antigens and Rh antibodies to Rh antigens.

Embolus

An embolus is the term given to a substance that travels through blood vessels until it reaches a vessel that is too small and becomes stuck. An embolus can be comprised of many different substances, most often it is a piece of a blood clot that has broken off and traveled through the blood stream.

Basophils

Basophils appear in many specific kinds of inflammatory reactions, particularly those that cause allergic symptoms. Basophils contain anticoagulant heparin, which prevents blood from clotting too quickly. They also contain the vasodilator histamine, which promotes blood flow to tissues.

Erythrocytes

Erythrocytes are red blood cells that travel in the blood. Their characteristics of being red, round, and like rubber give them the ability to complete their specific functions. They carry oxygen from the lungs to the body, and bring carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be expelled. A cell that contains hemoglobin and can carry oxygen to the body.

Exsanguinate

Exsanguination is the loss of blood to a degree sufficient to cause death. One does not have to lose all of one's blood to cause death. It is most commonly known as "bleeding to death" or colloquially as "bleeding out". The next level of blood loss occurs with the Class 3 hemorrhage, which references loss of 30 to 40 percent of total blood volume. This could be around 3 to 4 pints of blood, for those keeping track. Blood transfusion is usually necessary with a hemorrhage of this magnitude, according to Alton.

Hematopoiesis

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are responsible for the production of mature blood cells in bone marrow; peripheral pancytopenia is a common clinical presentation resulting from several different conditions, including hematological or extra-hematological diseases (mostly cancers) affecting the marrow function, as well.

Leukemia

Is also called blood cancer. The exact cause of most childhood leukemias is not known. Most children with leukemia do not have any known risk factors. Still, scientists have learned how certain changes in the DNA inside normal bone marrow cells can cause them to become leukemia cells.

Positive Chemotaxis

It is the movement of leukocytes toward the damaged tissue region because of the chemicals that were released by damaged cells.

Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that function as part of the immune system. Their various functions allow them to properly respond to foreign invaders in the body. Some lymphocytes work alone, while others are able to coordinate with other cells. Lymphocytopenia is an abnormally low number of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) in the blood. Many disorders can decrease the number of lymphocytes in the blood, but viral infections (including AIDS) and undernutrition are the most common.

Monocytes

Monocytes are a type of leukocyte, or white blood cell. They are the largest type of leukocyte and can differentiate into macrophages and myeloid lineage dendritic cells. As a part of the vertebrate innate immune system monocytes also influence the process of adaptive immunity. Monocytes are a type of white blood cell that fights off bacteria, viruses and fungi. Monocytes are the biggest type of white blood cell in the immune system. Originally formed in the bone marrow, they are released into our blood and tissues. When certain germs enter the body, they quickly rush to the site for attack.

Albumin

Serum albumin is the main protein of human blood plasma. It binds water, cations, fatty acids, hormones, bilirubin, thyroxine and pharmaceuticals (including barbiturates) its main function is to regulate the Oncotic pressure of blood.

Eosinophils

The functions of the eosinophil are varied, some of which are very similar to other white blood cells. They are implicated in numerous inflammatory processes, especially allergic disorders. In addition, eosinophils may have a physiological role in organ formation.

Hematocrit

The hematocrit measures the volume of red blood cells compared to the total blood volume (red blood cells and plasma). The normal hematocrit for men is 40 to 54%; for women it is 36 to 48%. This value can be determined directly by microhematocrit centrifugation or calculated indirectly.

Platelets

The normal platelet count is 150,000-350,000 per microliter of blood, but since platelets are so small, they make up just a tiny fraction of the blood volume. The principal function of platelets is to prevent bleeding. Red blood cells are the most numerous blood cell, about 5,000,000 per microliter.

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenias are generally caused by one or a combination of the following: decreased production of platelets (bone marrow disorders), increased destruction of platelets (immune or mechanical), and splenic sequestration. ITP is often an idiopathic immune thrombocytopenia.

Leukocytes

a colorless cell that circulates in the blood and body fluids and is involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease; a white (blood) cell. There are several types, all amoeboid cells with a nucleus, including lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, and macrophages.

Hemophilia

a disorder in which blood doesn't clot properly. Hemophilia is not one disease but rather one of a group of inherited bleeding disorders that cause abnormal or exaggerated bleeding and poor blood clotting. The term is most commonly used to refer to two specific conditions known as hemophilia A and hemophilia B, which will be the main subjects of this article. Hemophilia A and B are distinguished by the specific gene that is mutated (altered to become defective) and codes for a defective clotting factor (protein) in each disease. Rarely, hemophilia C (a deficiency of Factor XI) is encountered, but its effect on clotting is far less pronounced than A or B.

Erythropoietin

a hormone secreted by the kidneys that increases the rate of production of red blood cells in response to falling levels of oxygen in the tissues. The kidney cells that make erythropoietin are sensitive to low oxygen levels in the blood that travels through the kidney. These cells make and release erythropoietin when the oxygen level is too low. A low oxygen level may indicate a diminished number of red blood cells (anemia), or hemoglobin molecules that carry oxygen through the body.

Hemoglobin

a red protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood of vertebrates. Its molecule comprises four subunits, each containing an iron atom bound to a heme group.

Leukopenia

a reduction in the number of white cells in the blood, typical of various diseases. Leukopenia is a condition where a person has fewer white blood cells in their bloodstream than they should. Leukopenia is diagnosed with a blood test called a complete blood count or CBC.

Antigen

a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.

Agranulocytes

also known as mononuclear leukocytes, are white blood cells with a one-lobed nucleus. They are characterized by the absence of granules in their cytoplasm, which distinguishes them from granulocytes. Normal hematologic blood values of MLs are about 35% of all white blood cells. Agranulocytes, also known as mononuclear leukocytes, are white blood cells with a one-lobed nucleus. They are characterized by the absence of granules in their cytoplasm, which distinguishes them from granulocytes.

Polycythemia

an abnormally increased concentration of hemoglobin in the blood, through either reduction of plasma volume or increase in red cell numbers. It may be a primary disease of unknown cause, or a secondary condition linked to respiratory or circulatory disorder or cancer.

Hemostasis

is a process which causes bleeding to stop, meaning to keep blood within a damaged blood vessel (the opposite of hemostasis is hemorrhage). It is the first stage of wound healing. This involves coagulation, blood changing from a liquid to a gel. During hemostasis three steps occur in a rapid sequence. Vascular spasm is the first response as the blood vessels constrict to allow less blood to be lost. In the second step, platelet plug formation, platelets stick together to form a temporary seal to cover the break in the vessel wall.

Neutrophils

is a white blood cell that play some very important roles in our innate immune system. They circulate around our body in the bloodstream, and when they sense signals that an infection is present, they are the first cells to migrate to the site of the infection to begin killing the invading microbes.

Diapedesis

the passage of blood cells through the intact walls of the capillaries, typically accompanying inflammation. is the movement of leukocytes out of the circulatory system and towards the site of tissue damage or infection. This process forms part of the innate immune response, involving the recruitment of non-specific leukocytes.