| A | B |
|---|
| albumin | A simple protein found in blood plasma |
| antibody | A protein produced in response to, and interacting specifically with, an antigen |
| antigen | A substance that induces the formation of antibodies |
| B cell | A lymphocyte that matures in lymphoid tissue and is active in producing antibodies; B lymphocyte |
| coagulation | The process of clot formation |
| electrolyte | A substance that separates into charged particles (ions) in solution; a salt. Also refers to ions in body fluids |
| erythrocyte | A red blood cell |
| fibrin | The protein that forms a clot in the process of blood coagulation |
| fibrinogen | The inactive precursor of fibrin |
| formed elements | The cellular components of blood |
| hemoglobin | The iron-containing pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen |
| hemostasis | The stoppage of bleeding |
| immunity | The state of being protected against a specific disease |
| leukocyte | A white blood cell |
| lymphocyte | A lymphatic cell; a type of agranular leukocyte |
| phagocytosis | The engulfing of foreign material by white blood cells |
| plasma | The liquid portion of the blood |
| platelet | A formed element of the blood that is active in hemostasis; a thrombocyte |
| serum | The fraction of the plasma that remains after blood coagulation; it is the equivalent of plasma without its clotting factors |
| T cell | A lymphocyte that matures in the thymus gland and attacks foreign cells directly; T lymphocyte |
| thrombocyte | A blood platelet |
| allergen | A substance that causes an allergic response |
| allergy | Hypersensititvity |
| anaphylactic reaction | An exaggerated allergic reaction to a foreign substance |
| anemia | A decrease in the number or size of red blood cells or int the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. May result from blood loss, malnutrition, a hereditary defect, environmental factors, and other causes. |
| aplastic anemia | Anemia caused by bone marrow failure resulting in deficient blood cell production, especially that of red cells. |
| autoimmune disorder | A condition in which the immune system produces antibodies against an individual's own tissues |
| ecchymosis | A collection of blood under the skin caused by leakage from small vessels |
| hemolysis | The rupture of red blood cells and the release of hemoglobin |
| hemophilia | A hereditary blood disease caused by lack of a clotting factor and resulting in abnormal bleeding |
| Hodgkin's disease | A neoplastic disease of unknown cause that involves the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and other tissues; characterized by the presence of giant Reed-Sternberg cells |
| hypersensitivity | An immunologic reaction to a substance that is harmless to most people; allergy |
| immunodeficiency | A congenital or acquired failure in the immune system to protect against disease |
| leukemia | Malignant overgrowth of immature white blood cells. May be chronic or acute; may affect bone marrow (myelogenous leukemia( or lymphoid tissue (lymphocytic leukemia) |
| lymphadenopathy | Any disease of the lymph nodes |
| lymphoma | Any malignant disease of lymphoid tissue, such as Hodgkin's disease, Burkitt's disease, and others. |
| multiple myeloma | A tumor of the blood forming tissue in bone marrow |
| pernicious anemia | Anemia caused by failure of the stomach to produce intrinsic factor, a substance needed for the abosrption of vitamin B12 |
| petechiae | Pinpoint, flat, purplish-red spots caused by bleeding within the skin or mucous membrane |
| purpura | A condition characterized by hemorrhages into the skin, mucous membranes, internal organs, and other tissues. |
| sickle cell anemia | A hereditary anemia caused by the presence of abnormal hemoglobin, Red blood cells become sickle-shaped and interfere with normal blood flow to the tissues. Most common in Mediterranean and African populations. |
| splenomegaly | enlargement of the spleen |
| thrombocytopenia | A deficiency of thrombocytes in the blood |
| urticaria | A skin reaction consisting of round, raised eruptions with itching; hives |
| band cell | An immature neutrophil with a nucleus in the shape of a band. Also called a stab or staff cell. |
| intrinsic factor | A substance produced in the stomach that aids in the absorption of vitamin B12 necessary for the manufacture of red blood cells |
| reticulocyte | An immature red blood cell; counts are useful in diagnosis |
| agglutination | The clumping of cells or particles in the presence of specific antibodies |
| bilirubin | A pigment derived from the breakdown of hemoglobin. It is eliminated by the liver in bile. |
| complement | A group of plasma enzymes that interacts with antibody to destroy foreign cells |
| corpuscle | A small mass or body. A blood corpuscle is a blood cell. |
| gamma globulin | The fraction of the blood plasma that contains antibodies |
| heparin | A substance found throughout the body that inhibits blood coagulation; an anticoagulant |
| immunoglobulin | An antibody. Immunoglobulins fall into 5 classes, each abbreviated with a capital letter; IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE. |
| macrophage | A phagocytic cell derived from a monocyte, usually found within the tissues. Macrophages work with T cells in immunity |
| megakaryocyte | A large bone marrow cell that fragments to release platelets |
| plasmin | An enzyme that dissolves clots; also called fibrinolysin |
| thrombin | The enzyme derived from prothrombin that converts fibrinogen to fibrin |
| stem cell | A primitive bone marrow cell that gives rise to all varieties of blood cells. |
| agranulocytosis | A conditon involving decrease in the number of granulocytes in the blood; also called granulocytopenia |
| erythrocytosis | Increase in the number of red cells in the blood |
| hematoma | A localized collecton of blood, usually clotted, caused by a break in a blood vessel |
| hemosiderosis | A condition involving the deposition of an iron-containing pigment mainly in the liver and the speen. The pigment comes from hemoglobin released from disintegrated red blood cells. |
| lymphocytosis | An increase in the number of circulating lymphocytes. Usually a result of infection. |
| neutropenia | A decrease in the number of neutrophils with increased susceptibility to infection. Causes include drugs, irradiation, and infection. May be a side effect of treatment for malignancy. |
| pancytopenia | A decrease in all cells of the blood, as in aplastic anemia. |
| electrophoresis | Separation of particles in a liquid by application of an electrical field. Used to separate components of blood. |
| monoclonal antibody | A pure antibody produced in the laboratory, used for diagnosis and treatment. |
| pH | A scale that measures the relative acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Represents the amount of hydrogen ion in the solution. |
| adrenaline | A powerful stimulant naturally produced by the adrenal gland and sympathetic nervous system. Activiates the cardiovascular, respiratory, and other systems needed to meet stress. Used as a drug to treat severe allergic reactions and shock. Also called epinephrine. |
| antihistamine | A drug that counteracts the effects of histamine and is used to treat allergic reactions. |
| apheresis | A pprocedure in which blood is withdrawn, a portion is separated and retained, and the remainder is returned to the donor,. Apheresis may be used as a suffix with a root meaning the fraction retained, such a plasmapheresis, leukapheresis. |
| autologous blood | A person's own blood. May be donated in advance of surgery and transfused if needed. |
| cryoprecipitate | A sediment obtained by cooling. The fraction obtained by freezing blood plasma contains clotting factors. |
| desensitization | Treatment of allergy by small injections of the offending allergen. This causes an increase of antibody to destroy the antigen rapidly on contact. |
| immunosuppression | Depression of the immune response. May be correlated with disease, but also may be induced therapeutically to prevent rejection in cases of tissue transplantation. |
