Medical Terminology Sixteen Blood
Ferrin
A brown iron-containing pigment found in the so-called livers of various invertebrates
Anemia
A condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness
Reticulum
A network of intercellular fibers in certain issues; a network of structures in the endoplasm or nucleus of certain cells
Hypoxic
Aka hypoxia (or hypoxiation) is a condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply; skin turns blue
Hemo-
Blood
-Blast
Bud or germ; an immature precursor cell of the type indicated by the prefix
-Cyte
Denoting a mature cell
Polymorphonuclear leukocyte
Granulocytes are a category of white blood cells characterized by the presence of granules in their cytoplasm. They are also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN, PML, or PMNL) because of the varying shapes of the nucleus, which is usually lobed into three segments
-Poiesis
Making, formation
Monocyte
Migrate into peripheral tissues to become macrophages; a large phagocytic white blood cell with a simple oval nucleus and clear, grayish cytoplasm
Chemotaxis
Movement of a motile cell or organism, or part of one, in a direction corresponding to a gradient of increasing or decreasing concentration of a particular substance
-Lytic
Of, relating to, or causing lysis
Auto-
Oneself
Erythro-
Red
Hemato-
Relating to blood
Lymphocyte
Responsible for cell-mediated and humoral immunity activities; a form of small leukocyte (white blood cell) with a single round nucleus, occurring especially in the lymphatic system
Eosinophil
Specialize in the destruction of multicellular parasites; also allergies; a white blood cell containing granules that are readily stained by eosin
Deoxyhemoglobin
The form of hemoglobin without oxygen, the predominant protein in red blood cells. Hemoglobin forms an unstable, reversible bond with oxygen. In its oxygen-loaded form it is oxyhemoglobin and is bright red
Diapedesis
The passage of blood cells through the intact walls of the capillaries, typically accompanying inflammation
Hematocrit
The percentage of the amount of blood that is occupied by RBCs that are packed together; A centrifuge for separating the cells of the blood from the plasma
Leuko-
White
Basophil
a basophilic white blood cell; Migrate to injury sites and release histamine to dilate blood vessels
Embolus
a blood clot, air bubble, piece of fatty deposit, or other object that has been carried in the bloodstream to lodge in a vessel and cause an embolism
Oxyhemoglobin
a bright red substance formed by the combination of hemoglobin with oxygen, present in oxygenated blood
Leukocyte
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
Iron-deficiency Anemia
a common type of anemia — a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues. As the name implies, iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron
Carboxyhemoglobin
a compound formed in the blood by the binding of carbon monoxide to hemoglobin. It is stable and therefore cannot absorb or transport oxygen
Heparin
a compound occurring in the liver and other tissues that inhibits blood coagulation. A sulfur-containing polysaccharide, it is used as an anticoagulant in the treatment of thrombosis
Carbaminohemoglobin
a compound of hemoglobin and carbon dioxide, and is one of the forms in which carbon dioxide exists in the blood
Pernicious Anemia
a deficiency in the production of red blood cells through a lack of vitamin B12
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
Hemophilia
a medical condition in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced, causing the sufferer to bleed severely from even a slight injury. The condition is typically caused by a hereditary lack of a coagulation factor, most often factor VIII
Erythrocyte
a red blood cell that (in humans) is typically a biconcave disc without a nucleus. Erythrocytes contain the pigment hemoglobin, which imparts the red color to blood, and transport oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from the tissues
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
Sickle-cell Anemia
a severe hereditary form of anemia in which a mutated form of hemoglobin distorts the red blood cells into a crescent shape at low oxygen levels. It is most common among those of African descent
Albumin
a simple form of protein that is soluble in water and coagulable by heat, such as that found in egg white, milk, and (in particular) blood serum
Platelet
a small colorless disk-shaped cell fragment without a nucleus, found in large numbers in blood and involved in clotting
Extrinsic
not part of the essential nature of someone or something; coming or operating from outside
Embolism
obstruction of an artery, typically by a clot of blood or an air bubble
Coagulation
the clotting of blood. The process by which the blood clots to form solid masses, or clots. More than 30 types of cells and substances in blood affect clotting. The process is initiated by blood platelets.
Plasma
the colorless fluid part of blood, lymph, or milk, in which corpuscles or fat globules are suspended
Buffy coat
the fraction of an anticoagulated blood sample that contains most of the white blood cells and platelets following density gradient centrifugation of the blood
Hematocrit
the ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of blood
ABO Blood Groups
a system for classifying human blood on the basis of antigenic components of red blood cells and their corresponding antibodies. The ABO blood group is identified by the presence or absence of two different antigens, A and B, on the surface of the red blood cell. The four blood types in this grouping, A, B, AB, and O, are determined by and named for these antigens. Each ABO blood group also contains naturally occurring antibodies to the antigens it lacks. Group A has A antigens on the red cells, with anti-B antibodies in the plasma. Group B has B antigens on the red cells, and anti-A antibodies in the plasma. Group O has neither A nor B antigens, and both anti-A and anti-B in the plasma. AB has both A and B antigens on the red cells, and no anti-A or anti-B in the plasma. In addition to its significant role in transfusion therapy and transplantation, ABO blood grouping contributes to forensic medicine, to genetics, and to anthropology. See also blood group, Rh factor, transfusion
Warfarin
a water-soluble compound with anticoagulant properties, used as a rat poison and in the treatment of thrombosis
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
Serum
an amber-colored, protein-rich liquid that separates out when blood coagulates
Rh Factor
an antigen occurring on the red blood cells of many humans (around 85 percent) and some other primates. It is particularly important as a cause of hemolytic disease of the newborn and of incompatibility in blood transfusions
Reticulocyte
an immature red blood cell without a nucleus, having a granular or reticulated appearance when suitably stained.
Leukocytosis
an increase in the number of white cells in the blood, especially during an infection
Infection Mononucleosis
an infectious viral disease characterized by swelling of the lymph glands and prolonged lassitude.
Bilirubin
an orange-yellow pigment formed in the liver by the breakdown of hemoglobin and excreted in bile
Intrinsic
belonging naturally; essential
Polymerize
combine or cause to combine to form a polymer
Aplastic Anemia
deficiency of all types of blood cells caused by failure of bone marrow development
Thrombocytopenia
deficiency of platelets in the blood. This causes bleeding into the tissues, bruising, and slow blood clotting after injury.
