blood Flashcards
plasma
a straw colored liquid that serves as the medium for transporting materials within the blood
plasma proteins
proteins dissolved in plasma
examples of plasma proteins
albumins
globulins
antibodies
formed elements
cells of fragments found in the blood including platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells
stem cells
a type of cell that divides continuously and can give rise to other types of cells
red blood cells
also called erythrocytes
nucleus free, bioconcave cell that transports oxygen to cells and assists in transporting carbon dioxide away from cells
hemoglobin
the oxygen binding pigment in red blood cells consisting of four subunits
an iron containing heme group and a protein chain
erythropoietin
a hormone released by the kidney when the oxygen content of the blood declines, it stimulates red blood cell production
white blood cell
also known as leukocytes which are white blood cells
involved in body defense mechanisms and the removal of wastes, toxins, or damaged, abnormal cells
phagocytosis
the process by which cells such as white blood cells ingest foreign or substances by surrounding the foreign material with cell membrane
granulocytes
white blood cells with granules in their cytoplasm
agranulocytes
white blood cells without granules in their cytoplasm
neutrophil
a phagocytic white blood cell important in defense against bacteria and removal of cellular debris
eosinophils
type of white blood cell important in the bodys defense against parasitic worms
basophils
a white blood cell that releases histamine, a chemical that both attracts other white blood cells to the site and causes blood vessels to widen during an inflammatory response
monocytes
the largest white blood cell
active in fighting chronic infections, viruses, and intracellular bacterial infections
platelets
necessary for blood clotting
blood type
a characteristic of a persons red blood cells determined on the basis of large molecules on the surface of the plasma membrane
agglutinate
to clump together
Rh factor
group of antigens found on the surface of the red blood cells of most people
prothrombin activator
a blood protein that converts prothrombin to thrombin as part of the blood clotting process
prothrombin
plasma protein synthesized in the liver that is essential for blood clotting
thrombin
plasma protein important in blood clotting that is formed from prothrombin by thromboplastin
fibrinogen
plasma protein produced by the liver that is important in blood clotting
