Question | Answer |
embolus | dislodged, circulating clot |
agglutination | clumping of cells as a result of interaction with specific antibodies |
albumin | a plasma protien, helps maintain blood volume and blood pressure |
allergens | a substance that can produce a hypersensitive reaction in the body |
anaphylaxis | an exaggerated life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction to a previously encountered antigen |
antibodies | substances produced by the body in response to bacteria, viruses, or other foreign substances |
antigens | a substance, usually a protein, that causes the formation of an antibody and reacts specifically with that antibody |
coagulation | the process of transforming a liquid into a solid |
dyscrasia | an abnormal condition of the blood or bone marrow |
edema | the abnormal accumulation of fluid in interstitial spaces of tissues |
erythrocyte | a mature red blood cell |
erythropoietin | a hormone synthesized mainly in the kidneys and released into the bloodstream in response to anoxia (lack of oxygen) |
hematologist | a medical specialist in the field of hematology |
hemoglobin | a complex protein-iron compound in the blood that carries oxygen to the cells from the lungs and carbon dioxide away from the cells to the lungs |
hemorrhage | a loss of a large amount of blood in a short period of time |
hyperalbuminemia | an increased level of albumin in the blood |
hyperlipemia | an excessive level of blood fats, also known as hyperlipidemia |
leukocyte | a white blood cell |
leukocytopenia | abnormal decrease in number of white blood cells |
pancytopenia | a marked reduction in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets |
plasma | the watery, straw-colored, fluid portion of the lymph |
platelet | a clotting cell; a thrombocyte |
septicemia | systemic infection |
serology | branch of laboratory medicine that studies blood serum |
serum | plasma-fibrogen |
splenomegaly | an abnormal enlargement of the spleen |
thrombocyte | a clotting cell; a platelet |
thrombus | a clot |
aquired immunity | having had the disease or from having received an immunization against a disease |
edema | the accumulation of fluid within the tissue spaces |
hypersensitivity | an abnormal condition characterized by an excessive reaction to a particular stimulus |
immunity | the state of being resistant to or protected from a disease |
immunotherapy | a special treatment of allergic responses that administers increasingly large doses of the offending allergens to gradually develop immunity |
local reaction | a reaction to treatment that occurs at the site it was administered |
lymphocyte | originating from fetal stem cells and developing in the bone marrow |
natural immunity | immunity with which we are born |
pathogens | disease-producing microorganisms |
susceptible | a sate of having a lack of resistance |
anemia | condition in which there is a decrease in hemoglobin |
aplastic anemia | pancytopenia - inadequacy of the formed blood elements (RBCs, WBCs, and platelets) |
hemolytic anemia | extreme reduction in circulating RBCs due to their destruction |
iron deficiency anemia | characterized by deficiency of hemoglobin level due to a lack of iron |
pernicious anemia | results from a deficiency of mature RBCs due to lack of vitamin B12 |
sickle cell anemia | chronic hereditary form of hemolytic anemia in which the RBCs become shaped like a crescent in the presence of low oxygen concentration |
hemophilia | involves different hereditary inadequacies of coagulation factors |
leukemia | excessive uncontrolled increase of immature WBCs in the blood |
polycythemia vera | abnormal increase in the number of RBCs, granulocytes, and thrombocytes - leading to an increase in blood volume and viscosity (thickness) |
purpura | pinpoint hemorrahages appearing as red-purple skin discolorations |
thalassemia | hereditary form of hemolytic anemia in which the hemoglobin is deficient |
Coomb's test | Rh incompatibility between a pregnant Rh negative woman and her Rh positive fetus |
bleeding time | measurement of the time required for bleeding to stop |
blood transfusion | administration of blood or a blood component to an individual to replace blood lost through surgery, trauma, or disease |
complete blood cell count (CBC) | series of tests performed on peripheral blood, which inexpensively screens for problems |
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ERS) | test performed on the blood, which measures the rate at which red blood cells settle out in a tube of unclotted blood |
hematocrit | RBC "percentage" in the total blood volume |
hemoglobin test | concentration measurement of the hemoglobin in the peripheral blood |
lipid profile | measures the lipids in the blood |
platelet count | the count of platelets per cubic millimeter of blood |
prothrombin time (PT) | blood test used to evaluate; clot formation |
red blood cell count (RBC) | measurement of the circulating number of RBCs |
red blood cell morphology | examination of the RBC on a stained blood smear that enables the examiner to identify the form and shape of the RBCs |
reticulocyte count | measurement of the number of circulating reticlocytes |
Schilling test | a diagnostic analysis for pernicious anemia |
white blood cell (WBC) count | measurement of the circulating number of WBCs |
white blood cell differential | measurement of the percentage of the each specific type of circulating WBCs |
AIDS | acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
Kaposi'a sarcoma | malignant neoplasm of the blood vessels associated with AIDS |
lymphoma | lymphoid tissue neoplasm that is typically malignant |
mononucleosis | Epstein-Barr virus (EVB), known as kissing disease |
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) | blood test used for screening for an antibody to the AIDS virus |
lymphangiogram | x-ray assessment of the lymphatic system following injection of a "contrast medium" into the lymph vessels |