Chapter 4: Prefixes: Vocabulary Flashcards
antigen
Usually a foreign substance such as position, virus, or bacterium. Stimulates production of antibodies.
antibody
Protein substance made by white blood cells in response to the presence of foreign antigens.
immune response
The reaction between an antigen and antibody.
vaccine
Injection or spray of a weakened or dead antigen that stimulates the white blood cells to make antibodies. The antibodies remain in the blood to protect against those specific antigens if encountered in the future.
Rh condition
A person is Rh-negative meaning their red cells lack the Rh factor antigen
hemolytic disease of the newborn
or
erythroblastosis fetalis
An embryo is Rh-positive, but the mother is Rh-negative so the mother’s acquired antibodies from a previous pregnancy or transfusion enters the embryo’s bloodstream. These antibodies attack and destroy the embryo’s Rh-positive red blood cells., so the embryo attempts to compensate by making several but immature red blood cells.
jaundice
Yellow skin pigmentation resulting from excessive bilirubin in the bloodstream.
congenital anomaly
An irregularity in a structure or organ
recombinant DNA technology
Process of taking a gene from one organism and inserting it into the DNA of another organism.
polymerase chain reaction
Method of producing multiple copies of a single gene, which is an important tool of recombinant DNA technology.
syndrome
Group of signs of symptoms that appear together to produce a typing clinical picture of a disease or inherited abnormality.
Reye syndrome
Occurs in children after a viral infection has been treated by aspirin.
Symptoms: vomiting, swelling of the brain, increased intracranial pressure, hypoglycemia, and dysfunction of the liver.
Marfan syndrome
Inherited connective tissue disorder marked by a tall, thin body type with long “spidery” fingers and toes, elongated head, and abnormalities with the heart, blood vessels and eyes.
transurethral resection of the prostate
Portion of the prostate gland is removed with a rectoscope passed through the urethra
ultrasonography
Diagnostic technique using ultrasound waves to produce an image of an organ or tissue.