hematology vocabulary

Question 1

anemia
an- = without
-emia = blood condition

Answer 1

group of blood disorders involving either a reduction in the number of circulating erythrocytes or amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells; results in decreased oxygen delivery to tissues

Question 2

anticoagulant
anti- = against
coagul/o = clotting

Answer 2

any substance that prevents clot formation

Question 3

aplastic anemia
a- = without
-plasm = formation
-tic = pertaining to
an- without
-emia = blood condition

Answer 3

severe form of anemia caused by loss of functioning red bone marrow; results in decrease in number of all blood cells; may require a blood transfusion or bone marrow transplant

Question 4

autotransfusion

auto- = self

Answer 4

collecting and storing one’s own blood to replace blood lost during surgery

Question 5

blood analyzer

Answer 5

machine that automatically performs multiple blood chemistry tests, such as complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and blood-clotting tests

Question 6

blood culture and sensitivity (C&S)

Answer 6

blood specimen incubated to check for bacterial growth; if bacteria are present, they are identified and the best antibiotic treatment is determined

Question 7

blood transfusion

trans- = across

Answer 7

transfer of blood from one person to another

Question 8

bone marrow aspiration

Answer 8

removal of a small sample of bone marrow by needle to be examined for diseases such as leukemia or aplastic anemia

Question 9

bone marrow transplant (BMT)

Answer 9

a patient receives a red bone marrow donation after his/her own bone marrow is destroyed by radiation or chemotherapy

Question 10

coagulate

coagul/o = clotting

Answer 10

formation of blood clot

Question 11

complete blood count (CBC)

Answer 11

comprehensive blood test that includes red blood cell count (RBC), white blood cell count (WBC), hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), white blood cell differential, and platelet count

Question 12

embolus

embol/o = plug

Answer 12

commonly called a floating clot; usually a piece of thrombus breaks away and floats through the bloodstream until it lodges in a smaller blood vessel and blocks blood flow

Question 13

erythrocyte sedimentation rate
erythr/o = red
-cyte = cell

Answer 13

blood test that measures the rate at which red blood cells settle out of the blood to form sediment in the bottom of a test tube; indicates the presence of inflammatory disease

Question 14

hematocrit (HCT, Hct, crit)

hemat/o = blood

Answer 14

blood test that measures the volume of red blood cells within the total volume of blood

Question 15

hematoma
hemat/o = blood
-oma = mass

Answer 15

collection of blood under the skin as a result of blood escaping into tissue from a damaged blood vessel; commonly called a bruise

Question 16

hemoglobin
hem/o = blood
-globin = protein

Answer 16

blood test that measures the amount of hemoglobin present in a given volume of blood

Question 17

iron-deficiency anemia
an- = without
-emia = condition

Answer 17

anemia resulting when there is not enough iron to build hemoglobin for red blood cells

Question 18

leukemia
leuk/o = white
-emia = blood condition

Answer 18

cancer of leukocyte-forming red bone marrow; the patient has a large number of abnormal and immature leukocytes circulating in the blood

Question 19

multiple myeloma
myel/o = bone marrow
-oma = tumor

Answer 19

cancer that originates in the lymphocytes that make antibodies; over time, the cancerous cells collect in the bone marrow, resulting bone marrow tumors

Question 20

pernicious anemia (PA)
an- = without
-emia = blood condition

Answer 20

anemia resulting when the digestive system absorbs an insufficient amount of vitamin B12; this vitamin is necessary for erythrocyte production (pernicious comes from the Latin word perniciosus, meaning destructive)

Question 21

phlebotomy
phleb/o = vein
-otomy = cutting into

Answer 21

removal of a blood specimen from a vein for laboratory tests; also called venipuncture

Question 22

platelet count

Answer 22

blood test that determines the number of platelets in a given volume of blood

Question 23

polycythemia vera
poly- = many
cyt/o = cell
hem/o = blood
-ia = blood condition

Answer 23

condition characterized by too many erythrocytes; blood becomes too thick to flow easily through blood vessels

Question 24

prothrombin time (pro-time, PT)

Answer 24

blood test that measures how long it takes for a clot to form after prothrombin, a blood-clotting protein, is activated

Question 25

red blood cell count (RBC)

Answer 25

blood test that determines the number of erythrocytes in a volume of blood; decrease may indicate anemia; increase may indicate polycythemia vera

Question 26

septicemia
septic/o = infection
-emia = blood condition

Answer 26

presence of bacteria or their toxins in the bloodstream; commonly called blood poisoning

Question 27

serum

Answer 27

blood that has had formed elements and clotting factors removed

Question 28

sickle cell anemia
an- = without
-emia = blood condition

Answer 28

inherited blood cell disorder in which erythrocytes take on an abnormal curved or sickle shape; cells are fragile and easily damaged resulting in anemia; occurs almost exclusively in persons of African descent

Question 29

thalassemia

-emia = blood condition

Answer 29

inherited blood disorder in which the body is unable to correctly make hemoglobin, resulting in anemia

Question 30

thrombolytic therapy
thromb/o = clot
-lytic = destruction

Answer 30

administering medication to dissolve a blood clots and restore normal circulation

Question 31

white blood cell count (WBC)

Answer 31

blood test that determines the number of leukocytes in a volume of blood; increase may indicate infection or leukemia; decrease may be caused by some diseases, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy

Question 32

white blood cell differential (diff)

Answer 32

blood test that determines the number of each type of leukocyte

Question 33

hemophilia
hem/o = blood
-phil = attracted to
-ia = condition

Answer 33

inherited lack of a vital clotting factor; results in almost complete inability to stop bleeding