Glossary Flashcards
Progenitors
Biological cell that, like a stem cell, has a tendency to differentiate into a specific type of cell, but is already more specific than a stem cell and is pushed to differentiate into its ‘target’ cell
Erythrocytosis
Increase in RBCs
Leucocytosis
Increase in WBCs
Thrombocytosis / Thrombocythemia
Increase in platelets
Anaemia
Decrease in RBCs
Leukopenia
Decrease in WBCs
Thrombocytopenia
Decrease in platelets
Neoplasm
Uncontrolled cell growth
Thrombosis
Local coagulation or clotting in part of circulatory system (blood clot in a blood vessel)
Atherosclerosis
Deposition of lipids mainly in form of lipoproteins in arterial wall
Hypercoagubility
An abnormality of blood coagulation that increases risk of thrombosis. Caused by inhibitor deficiency (antithrombin, protein C, protein S)
Hereditary Angioedema
Increased complement activation leads to swelling in face and neck. Caused by C1 inhibitor deficiency
Complement system
Part of the immune system that enhances (complements) the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear microbes and damaged cells from an organism, promote inflammation, and attack the pathogen’s cell membrane
Haematological Malignancy
Cancers of the blood, bone marrow and lymph that are subdivided according to which type of blood cell is affected
Oncogenes
Normal genes that usually produce factors that regulate cell function (growth factors, their receptors, DNA binding proteins) become mutated - directly causative of cancer
Tumour Suppressor Genes
Suppress tumours - loss of suppressor activity leads to cancer
Myeloproliferative Disorders
Group of slow-growing blood cancers in which the bone marrow makes too many abnormal RBCs, WBC or platelets, which accumulate in blood
Myeloid Malignancies
Heterogenous disorders characterised by uncontrolled proliferation and/or blockage of differentiation of abnormal myeloid progenitor cells
Polycythaemia
Bone marrow produces too many RBCs. Causes blood to thicken and slow flow. Can led to heart attack / stroke
Thrombocythemia
Bone marrow produces too many platelets - predisposed to thrombosis
Myelofibrosis
Bone marrow produces too many megakaryocytes - too little RBCs and WBCs. Can lead to anaemia and scarring of bone marrow
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
Increased granulocytes due to translocation of Philadelphia chromosome. Produces an enzyme that you cannot switch off, leading to uncontrolled cell division as enzyme drives cell cycle
Haemostasis
The process that maintains the flowing blood in a fluid state and confined to the circulatory system
Haemorrhage
The process of bleeding
