Glossary

Question 1

Progenitors

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Erythrocytosis

Answer 2

Increase in RBCs

Question 3

Leucocytosis

Answer 3

Increase in WBCs

Question 4

Thrombocytosis / Thrombocythemia

Answer 4

Increase in platelets

Question 5

Anaemia

Answer 5

Decrease in RBCs

Question 6

Leukopenia

Answer 6

Decrease in WBCs

Question 7

Thrombocytopenia

Answer 7

Decrease in platelets

Question 8

Neoplasm

Answer 8

Uncontrolled cell growth

Question 9

Thrombosis

Answer 9

Local coagulation or clotting in part of circulatory system (blood clot in a blood vessel)

Question 10

Atherosclerosis

Answer 10

Deposition of lipids mainly in form of lipoproteins in arterial wall

Question 11

Hypercoagubility

Answer 11

An abnormality of blood coagulation that increases risk of thrombosis. Caused by inhibitor deficiency (antithrombin, protein C, protein S)

Question 12

Hereditary Angioedema

Answer 12

Increased complement activation leads to swelling in face and neck. Caused by C1 inhibitor deficiency

Question 13

Complement system

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Haematological Malignancy

Answer 14

Cancers of the blood, bone marrow and lymph that are subdivided according to which type of blood cell is affected

Question 15

Oncogenes

Answer 15

Normal genes that usually produce factors that regulate cell function (growth factors, their receptors, DNA binding proteins) become mutated - directly causative of cancer

Question 16

Tumour Suppressor Genes

Answer 16

Suppress tumours - loss of suppressor activity leads to cancer

Question 17

Myeloproliferative Disorders

Answer 17

Group of slow-growing blood cancers in which the bone marrow makes too many abnormal RBCs, WBC or platelets, which accumulate in blood

Question 18

Myeloid Malignancies

Answer 18

Heterogenous disorders characterised by uncontrolled proliferation and/or blockage of differentiation of abnormal myeloid progenitor cells

Question 19

Polycythaemia

Answer 19

Bone marrow produces too many RBCs. Causes blood to thicken and slow flow. Can led to heart attack / stroke

Question 20

Thrombocythemia

Answer 20

Bone marrow produces too many platelets - predisposed to thrombosis

Question 21

Myelofibrosis

Answer 21

Bone marrow produces too many megakaryocytes - too little RBCs and WBCs. Can lead to anaemia and scarring of bone marrow

Question 22

Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Haemostasis

Answer 23

The process that maintains the flowing blood in a fluid state and confined to the circulatory system

Question 24

Haemorrhage

Answer 24

The process of bleeding

Question 25

Thrombosis

Answer 25

The process of clotting

Question 26

Fibrinolysis

Answer 26

The process of clot dissolution