Medical Terminology Chapter 13

Blood System Terminology

• Albumin: Essential blood protein that regulates water retention in blood.
• Anemia: Condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells (erythrocytes) or hemoglobin.
• Antibody (Ab): Specialized protein made by lymphocytes, crucial for immune response against pathogens.
• Antigen: Any substance triggering antibody production, playing a key role in immune reactions.
• Aplastic Anemia: Serious condition where the bone marrow fails to produce sufficient blood cells.
• Basophil: A type of white blood cell featuring blue-staining granules, involved in inflammatory responses.
• Bilirubin: Orange-yellow byproduct formed from the breakdown of hemoglobin; important for liver function.
• Coagulation: Vital process of blood clotting, preventing excessive bleeding.
• Colony-Stimulating Factor (CSF): Protein that promotes the development and growth of white blood cells.
• Differentiation: Process through which cells mature and develop distinct structures and functions.
• Electrophoresis: Technique used to separate serum proteins based on their electrical charges.
• Eosinophil: White blood cell with red-staining granules; closely associated with allergy responses.
• Erythroblast: Immature stage of a red blood cell in development.
• Erythrocyte: Commonly known as red blood cell, crucial for oxygen transport in the body.
• Erythropoietin (EPO): Hormone secreted by kidneys, stimulating red blood cell production in the bone marrow.
• Fibrin: Protein essential for the formation of blood clots, providing structural integrity to clots.
• Fibrinogen: Plasma protein converting into fibrin during coagulation, key in the clotting cascade.
• Globulin: Another type of plasma protein, important for various immune functions.
• Granulocyte: White blood cell characterized by numerous dark-staining granules; includes neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.
• Granulocytosis: Condition characterized by an abnormal increase in granulocytes within the bloodstream.
• Hematopoietic Stem Cell: Progenitor cell located in bone marrow, responsible for generating all blood cell types.
• Hemochromatosis: Disorder caused by excessive iron accumulation in the body’s tissues.
• Hemoglobin: Iron-containing protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen for transportation.
• Hemolysis: Destruction of red blood cells, often leading to anemia.
• Hemolytic Anemia: Reduction in red blood cells due to their excessive destruction.
• Hemophilia: Genetic disorder leading to an inability to properly clot blood, resulting in excessive bleeding.
• Heparin: Naturally occurring anticoagulant within blood, preventing blood clot formation.
• Immune Reaction: Body's response to foreign substances, integral to the immune system’s function.
• Immunoglobulin: Class of proteins that function as antibodies, playing a key role in immune defense.
• Leukocyte: Generic term for white blood cells, vital for combating infections.
• Leukemia: Cancer characterized by the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells.
• Lymphocyte: Specialized leukocyte responsible for antibody production and immune response.
• Macrophage: Type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests foreign particles and debris.
• Megakaryocyte: Large cell in bone marrow that produces platelets essential for clotting.
• Monocyte: A type of leukocyte known for its large nucleus; plays a role in immune defense by clearing pathogens.
• Mononuclear: Describes cells with a single round nucleus, often linked to specific immune functions.
• Mononucleosis: Infectious disease resulting in increased mononuclear leukocytes and swollen lymph nodes.
• Multiple Myeloma: Serious cancer originating in bone marrow, characterized by malignant plasma cells.
• Myeloblast: Immature blood cell in the bone marrow that matures into granulocytes.
• Neutrophil: Primary type of granulocyte; key player in the early stages of immune response.
• Pernicious Anemia: Type of anemia caused by vitamin B12 absorption failure, leading to a lack of mature erythrocytes.
• Plasma: Liquid component of blood that carries cells, nutrients, hormones, and waste products.
• Plasmapheresis: Procedure to separate plasma from whole blood, often used for therapeutic purposes.
• Platelet: Small cell fragments crucial for initiating the clotting process at injury sites.
• Polycythemia Vera: Blood disorder characterized by an overproduction of red blood cells, leading to thickened blood.
• Polymorphonuclear: Relating to white blood cells with a multilobed nucleus, typically seen in neutrophils.

Test your knowledge of essential medical terminology related to the blood system with these flashcards. Each term is defined concisely, providing a useful study tool for students in the healthcare field. Perfect for mastering key concepts in hematology.