Medical Terminology: Blood and Lymphatic Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering combining forms, blood fluid terms, cellular components, lymphatic organs and structures, and immunity concepts from the blood and lymphatic system notes.

blast/o (also a suffix, -blast)

germ or bud

chrom/o, chromat/o

color

chyl/o

juice

cyt/o

cell

hem/o, hemat/o

blood

immun/o

safe

lymph/o

clear fluid

morph/o

form

myel/o

bone marrow or spinal cord

phag/o

eat or swallow

plas/o

formation

reticul/o

a net

splen/o

spleen

thromb/o

clot

thym/o

thymus gland

plasma

liquid portion of the blood and lymph; contains water, proteins, and cellular components (i.e., leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets)

serum

liquid portion of the blood that remains after clotting

erythrocyte

red blood cell; transports oxygen and carbon dioxide

hemoglobin

the protein-iron compound in erythrocytes that transports oxygen and carbon dioxide

leukocyte

white blood cell; protects the body from harmful invading substances

granulocytes

a group of leukocytes containing granules in their cytoplasm

neutrophil

a granular leukocyte, named for the neutral stain of its granules, that fights infection by swallowing bacteria (phagocytosis) (neutr = neither; phil = attraction for)

polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte

another term for neutrophil, referring to the many segments in its nucleus (poly = many; morpho = form; nucleus = kernel)

eosinophil

a granular leukocyte, named for the rose-colored stain of its granules, that increases in allergic and some infectious reactions (eos = dawn-colored [rosy]; phil = attraction for)

basophil

a granular leukocyte, named for the dark stain of its granules, that brings anticoagulant substances to inflamed tissues (baso = base; phil = attraction for)

agranulocytes

a group of leukocytes without granules in their nuclei

lymphocyte

an agranulocytic leukocyte that is active in the process of immunity; the three categories of lymphocytes are T cells (thymus-dependent), B cells (bone marrow-derived), and natural killer (NK) cells

monocyte

an agranulocytic leukocyte that performs phagocytosis to fight infection (mono = one)

platelets

thrombocytes; cell fragments in the blood that are essential for blood clotting (coagulation)

thymus

primary gland of the lymphatic system, located within the mediastinum, that helps to maintain the body's immune response by producing T lymphocytes

spleen

organ between the stomach and the diaphragm that filters out aging blood cells, removes cellular debris by performing phagocytosis, and provides an environment for lymphocytes to initiate immune responses

lymph

fluid that is circulated through the lymph vessels

lymph capillaries

microscopic vessels that draw lymph from tissues to the lymph vessels

lymph vessels

vessels that receive lymph from the lymph capillaries and circulate it to the lymph nodes

lacteals

specialized lymph vessels in the small intestine that absorb fat into the bloodstream (lacteus = milky)

chyle

white or pale yellow substance in lymph that contains fatty substances absorbed by the lacteals

lymph nodes

many small, oval structures that filter lymph from the lymph vessels; major locations include the cervical, axillary, and inguinal regions

lymph ducts

collecting channels that carry lymph from the lymph nodes to the veins

right lymphatic duct

receives lymph from the right upper part of the body

thoracic duct

receives lymph from the left side of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, left arm, and lower extremities

immunity

process of disease protection induced by exposure to an antigen

antigen

a substance that, when introduced into the body, causes the formation of antibodies against it

antibody

a substance produced by the body that destroys or inactivates an antigen that has entered the body

active immunity

a long-lasting immunity that results from stimulating the body to produce its own antibodies; developed either naturally, in response to an infection, or artificially, in response to the administration of a vaccine

passive immunity

a short-lasting immunity that results from foreign antibodies that are conveyed either naturally, through the placenta to a fetus, or artificially, by injection of a serum containing antibodies