Chapter 34 Flashcards
Endothelium
The simple squamous layer of cells lining the lumen of blood vessels
Vasoconstriction
A decrease in the diameter of blood vessels caused by contraction of smooth muscles in the vessel walls
Vasodilation
An increase in the diameter of blood vessels caused by relaxation of smooth muscles in the vessel walls
Lymphatic System
A system of vessels and nodes, separate from the circulation system, that returns fluid, proteins, and cells to the blood
Lymph
The colorless fluid, derived from interstitial fluid, in the lymphatic system of vertebrates
Lymph Nodes
An organ located along a lymph vessel. Lymph nodes filter lymph and contain cells that attack viruses and bacteria.
Plasma
The liquid matrix of blood in which the blood cells are suspended
Platelets
A pinched-off cytoplasmic fragment of a specialized bone marrow cell. Platelets circulate in the blood and are important in blood clotting.
Stem Cells
Any relatively unspecialized cell that can produce, during a single division, two identical daughter cells or two more specialized daughter cells that can undergo further differentiation, or one cell of each type
Erythrocytes
A blood cell that contains hemoglobin, which transports oxygen; also called a red blood cell.
Hemoglobin
An iron-containing protein in red blood cells that reversibly binds oxygen
Leukocyte
A blood cell that functions in fighting infection; also called a white blood cell.
Thrombus
A fibrin-containing clot that forms in a blood vessel and blocks the flow of blood
Atherosclerosis
A cardiovascular disease in which fatty deposits called plaques develop in the inner walls of the arteries, obstructing the arteries and causing them to harden
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
A particle in the blood made up of thousands of cholesterol molecules and other lipids bound to a protein. LDL transports cholesterol from the liver for incorporation into cell membranes.
