Question | Answer |
hemophilia | a hereditary disorder in which there is an impairment of the blood clotting mechanism |
hemoglobin | a specialized plasma protein containing iron which gives blood its red colour and also carries O2 to body tissues |
immunocompetent | ability to develop an immune response or recognize antigens and respond to them |
edema | abnormal accumulation of fluids int he intercellular spaces of the body |
disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) | abnormal activation of the proteins involved in blood coagulation, causing small blood clots to form in vessels and cutting off the supply of O2 to distal (farthest from centre-fingertips) tissues |
thrombocytopenia | abnormal decrease in platelets caused by low production of platelets in the bone marrow or increased destruction of platelets in the blood vessels, spleen or liver. |
hemosiderosis | abnormal increase of iron in the blood |
leukocytosis | abnormal increase of white cells |
lymphadenopathy | any disease of the lymph nodes |
hemoglobinopathy | any disorder caused by abnormalities int he hemoglobin molecule |
immunotherapy | any form of treatment that alters, enhances, stimulates or restores the body's natural immune mechanisms to treat disease |
von Willebrand disease | Bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of von Willebrand factor, a "sticky" protein that lines blood vessels and reacts with platelets to form a plug that leads to clot formation |
antiserum | blood serum that contains antibodies |
megakaryocyte | cell with large nucleus; fragments become platelets |
cytokine | chemical substance produced by certain cells that initiates, inhibits, increases, or decreases activity in other cells |
pernicious anemia | chronic, progressive anemia found mostly in people older than age 50 due to lack of sufficient vitamin B12 needed for blood cell development |
blood | composed of a liquid portion called plasma, and a solid portion containing RBCs, WBCs, and platelets |
graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) | complication that occurs following a stem cell or bone marrow transplant in which the transplant produces antibodies against recipient's organs that can be sever enough to cause death |
phagocytosis | condition of ingesting cells |
leukopenia | decrease in WBCs |
thrombocytopenia | decrease of platelets |
erythropenia | decrease of RBCs |
antimicrobials | destroy bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, depending on the particular drug, generally by interfering with the function of their cell membrane or their reproductive cycle |
thrombolysis | destruction of a clot |
hemolytic anemia | destruction of RBCs, commonly resulting in jaundice |
erythrocytolysis | destruction of red cells |
dyspnea | difficulty breathing |
adenopathy | disease of a gland |
thrombolytics | dissolve blood clots by destroying their fibrin strands |
vertigo | dizziness |
myeloblast | embryonic WBC formed in bone marrow |
splenomegaly | enlargement of the spleen |
autoimmune disease | failure of the body to accurately distringuish between what is 'self" and what is "non-self" |
hematopoiesis | formation of blood cells and platelets in the bone marrow |
bone marrow MRI | highly sensitive imaging procedure that detects lesions and changes in bone tissue and bone marrow, especially in multiple myeloma |
allergy injection | injection with increasing strengths of the offending antigen given over a period of months or years to increase tolerance to an antigen responsible for sever allergies |
reticulocyte | immature RBC |
folic-acid deficiency anemia | inability to produce sufficient red blood cells due to the lack of folic acid, a B vitamin essential for erythropoiesis |
transfusion | infusion of blood or blood products from one person to another |
homologous BM transplant | infusion of bone marrow or stem cells from a compatible donor after a course of chemotherapy and/or radiation; also called allogenic transplant |
bone marrow transplant | infusion of healthy bone marrow stem cells after the diseased bone marrow is destroyed by chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy; used to treat leukemia, aplastic anemia, and certain cancers |
autologous BM transplant | infusion of the patient's own bone marrow or stem cells after a course of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy |
sickle cell anemia | inherited anemia that causes RBCs to become crescent or sickle-shaped when oxygen levels are low |
lymphoiscintigraphy | introduction of a radioactive tracer into the lymph channels to determine lymph flow, identify obstruction, and locate the sentinel node |
iron-deficiency anemia | lack of sufficient iron in RBCs |
monocyte | leukocyte that is phagocytic; has a large nucleus |
eosinophil | leukocyte that protects the body by releasing toxins to destroy harmful invaders |
basophil | leukocyte that releases histamines and heparin; slightly phagocytic |
hematoma | localized accumulation of blood, usually clotted, in an organ, space, or tissue due to a break in or severing of a blood vessel |
hypotension | low blood pressure |
multiple myeloma | malignant tumour of plasma cells in the bone marrow |
erythrocyte | mature RBC |
antifibrinolytics | neutralize fibrinolytic chemicals in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and urinary tract to prevent the breakdown of blood clots |
monospot test | nonspecific rapid serological test for the presence of the heterophile antibody, which develops several days after infection by Epstein-Barr virus, the organism that caused infectious monocucleosis |
phlebotomy | obtaining blood for the purpose of testing |
immunologist | one who specializes in the study of protection |
throbocythemia | overproduction of platelets, leading to thrombosis or bleeding disorders due to platelet malformations |
hypochromic | pertaining to decrease of colour |
thrombocyte | platelet; initiates blood clotting |
sepsis | presence of bacteria or their toxins in the blood; also called septicemia or blood poisoning. |
fat-soluble vitamins | prevent and treat bleeding disorders resulting from a lack of prothrombin, which is commonly caused by vitamin K deficiency |
anticoagulants | prevent blood clot formation by inhibiting the synthesis or inactivating one or more clotting factors |
antivirals | prevent replication of viruses within host cells |
graft rejection | process in which a recipient's immune system attacks a transplanted organ or tissue |
antibody (Ab) | protective protein produced by B lymphocytes in response to the presence of a foreign substance called an antigen |
tachycardia | rapid heart beat |
erythema | redness of the skin |
anemia | reduction in the number of circulating red blood cells |
bone marrow aspiration | removal of a small sample of bone marrow using a thin aspirating needle for microscopic examination |
lymphadenectomy | removal of lymph nodes, especially in surgical procedures undertaken to remove malignant tissue |
sentinel node excision | removal of the first lymph node that receives drainage from cancer-containing areas and one most likely to contain malignant cells |
thymectomy | removal/excision of the thymus gland |
myeloid | resembling bone marrow |
complete blood count (CBC) | series of tests that include hemoglobin; hematocrit; red and white blood cell count; also called hemogram |
aplastic anemia | serious form of anemia associated with bone marrow failure and resulting in erythropenia, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia |
natural killer (NK) cells | specialized lymphocytes that kill abnormal cells by releasing chemicals that destroy the cell membrane, causing its intercellular fluids to leak out |
hemocytoblast | stem cell, from which other blood cells develop |
antigen | substance, recognized as harmful to the host, that stimulates formation of antibodies in an immunocompetent individual |
bile pigment | substances derived from the breakdown of hemoglobin and excreted by the liver |
lymphedema | swelling, primarily in a single arm or leg, due to an accumulation of lymph within tissues caused by obstruction or disease in the lymph vessels |
partial thromboplastin time (PTT) | test that measures the length of time it takes to blood to clot to screen for deficiencies of some clotting factors; also called activated partial thromboplastine time |
prothrombintime (PT) | test that measures the time it takes for prothrombin to form a clot; also called pro time |
blood culture | test to determine the presence of pathogens in the bloodstream |
Shilling test | test used to diagnose pernicious anemia by determining if the body properly absorbs vitamin B12 through the digestive tract |
antinuclear antibody (ANA) | test to identify antibodies that attack the nucleus of the individual's own body cells |
plasma | the liquid portion of blood where blood cells are suspended |
neutrophil | the most numerous white cell, highly phagocytic |
morphology | the study of shape |
viscous | thick, sticky |
myeloid tissue | tissue which resembles the myelocyte of bone marrow |
lymphoma | tumour of lymph tissue |
granuloctye | type of white blood cell containing granules; formed int he red bone marrow |
agranulocyte | type of white blood cell without grandules |
biological | use of immune system stimulators to enhance the immune response in the treatment of certain forms of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn disease; also called biologic therapy or biotherapy |
lymphogiograph | visualization of lymphatic channels and lymph nodes using a contrast medium to determine blockages or other pathologies of the lymph system |
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) | widespread autoimmune disease that may affect the skin, brain, kidneys, and joints and causes chronic inflammations; also called discoid lupus if symptoms are limited to the skin |
lymphocytes | white blood cell in blood and lymphatic tissues; provides protection from bacteria |
leukocyte | white blood cell; prevents invasion of foreign microorganisms |