Chap 13, Blood System, Terminology Flashcards
basophil
White blood cell (leukocyte) containing dark granules that stain with a basic dye. The suffix -phil means attraction to.
hypochromic
Pert. to a deficiency in colour; decrease in hemoglobin in red blood cells. Hypochromic anemia is marked by a decreased concentration of hemoglobin in red blood cells.
anticoagulant
Substance that prevents blood clotting.
coagulopathy
Disease of blood clotting.
cytology
Study of cells.
eosinophil
A granular white blood cell with cytoplasmic granules that stain with eosin (a reddish dye).
erythroblast
Immature, developing red blood cell. (-blast means immature).
granulocyte
White blood cell with numerous dark-staining granules;eosinophil, neutrophil, and basophil.
hemolysis
Destruction of red blood cells. Destruction or breakdown of red blood cells. See hemolytic anemia.
hematocrit
Percentage of red blood cells in a given volume of blood. The suffix -crit means to separate. The hematocrit gives the percentage of RBCs in a volume of blood.
hemoglobinopathy
Disease or defect of hemoglobin production. Sickle cell anemia is an example.
anisocytosis
Inequality in the size of red blood cells. An abnormality of red blood cells; they are of unequal (anis/o) size; -cytosis means an increase in the number of cells.
magakaryocyte
Large, giant cell with a big nucleus; platelet precursor found in the bone marrow.
leukopenia
Deficiency of white blood cells.
monocyte
White blood cell with one large nucleus; capable of killing foreign substances by phagocytosis (ingestion). The cell has a single, rather than a multilobed, nucleus.
morphology
Study of the shape or form of cells.
myeloblast
Immature granulocytic white blood cell; a cell normally only found in the bone marrow. The suffix -blast indicates an immature cell.
myelodysplasia
Abnormal (ineffective) production of myeloid cells in bone marrow. (-plasia means development, formation, growth; increased # of cell growth). This is a preleukemic condition.
neutropenia
Deficiency in neutrophils. This term refers to neutrophils.
polymorphonuclear
Pert. to a multilobed nucleus (in granulocytic white blood cells).
phagocyte
Cells that engulf another cell or foreign organism and destroys it.
poikilocytosis
Variation in the shape of red blood cells. Irregularity in the shape of red blood cells. Poikilocytosis occurs in certain types of anemia.
sideropenia
Deficiency of iron in the blood.
spherocytosis
Increase in numbers of sphere-shaped RBCs, as in a type of anemia (hemolytic anemia). In this condition, the erythrocyte has a round shape, making the cell fragile and easity able to be destroyed.
thrombocytopenia
Deficiency of clotting cells.
plasmapheresis
Removal of plasma from withdrawn blood by centrifuge. A centrifuge spins blood to remove plasma from the other parts of blood.
leukapheresis
Mechanical separation of white blood cells from the rest of the blood.
plateletpheresis
Separation of platelets from the rest of the blood. Note that the a of apheresis is dropped in this term. Platelets are removed from the donor’s blood (and used in a patient), and the remainder of the blood is reinfused into the donor.
monoblast
Immature monocyte.
macrocytosis
Abnormal condition (slight increase in #’s) of macrocytes. Presence of large red blood cells in the blood. Macrocytes are erythrocytes that are larger (macro-) than normal.
microcytosis
Abnormal condition. Increased numbers of smaller than normal red blood cells. These are erythrocytes that are smaller (micro-) than normal.
leukemia
Disease of high numbers of malignant (cancerous) white blood cells.
fibrinogen
Plasma protein that is converted to fibrin in the clotting process. Fibrin is a protein that forms the basis of a blood clot.
hemoglobin
Blood protein containing iron; carries oxygen in red blood cells.
immunoglobulins
Antibodies (proteins) secreted by B-cell lymphocytes (plasma cells). Protein (antibody produced by plasma cells) that acts to protect the body by destroying antigens.
thrombolytic therapy
Treatment with drugs to break down clots that may abnormally form in blood vessels. Used to dissolve clots.
myeloid
Derived from bone marrow.
thrombosis
Abnormal condition of clot formation in a blood vessel. Abnormal condition of clotting.
granulocytopenia
Deficiency of granulocytes (white blood cells).
pancytopenia
Deficiency of all blood cells.
macrophage
Large phagocytic cell (in blood and tissues) that eats (engulfs) other cells. A large phagocyte that destroys worn-out red blood cells and foreign material. It is derived from a monocyte.
eosinophilia
Increase in numbers of eosinophils in the bloodstream.
neutrophilia
Increased numbers of neutrophils.
electrophoresis
Technique used to separate serum proteins by electrical charge. Separation of proteins in a solution by using an electric current (used to separate protein fractions of serum, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid).
hematopoiesis
Formation of blood cells.
erythropoiesis
Formation of erythrocytes (red blood cells). Erythropoietin is produced by the kidneys to stimulate erythrocyte formation.
myelopoiesis
Formation of bone marrow.
hemostasis
Stoppage of bleeding or circulation of blood or stoppage of the flow of blood.
neutrophil
A granular leukocyte; important disease-fighting cell.
