Early Tissue Reactions - Chapter 8

Flashcards of vocabulary terms from the lecture notes.

Somatic Effects

Effects upon the body that was irradiated.

Genetic Effects

Effects upon future generations due to irradiation of germ cells.

Somatic Tissue Reactions

Directly related to the dose received and have consequences including cell death.

Threshold

A point at which effects appear and below which they are absent.

Early Tissue Reactions

May appear within minutes, hours, days, or weeks after exposure to ionizing radiation.

Erythema

Diffuse redness of the skin.

Epilation

Hair loss.

Desquamation

Shedding of outer layer of skin.

Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS)

Occurs in humans after large whole-body doses of ionizing radiation (6 Gyt or more) delivered over a short period of time (several hours to a few days).

Prodromal Period

Immediate response of radiation sickness (occurs within hours after exposure).

Latent Period

Time after irradiation during which there are no signs of radiation sickness.

Manifest Illness

Period when signs and symptoms return during Acute Radiation Syndrome.

Hematopoietic Syndrome

Occurs when people receive whole-body doses of ionizing radiation ranging from 1 to 10 Gyt.

Gastrointestinal Syndrome

Has a threshold dose of approximately 6 Gyt; death occurs due to catastrophic damage to epithelial cells lining the GI tract.

Cerebrovascular Syndrome

Occurs at doses of 50 Gyt or more to the central nervous system and cardiovascular system.

Biologic Dosimetry

Analysis of tissue damage used to estimate radiation dose.

LD 50/30

Indicates the whole-body dose of radiation that is lethal to 50% of the exposed population within 30 days.

LD 50/60

Indicates the whole-body dose of radiation that is lethal to 50% of the exposed population within 60 days.

Radiodermatitis

Significant reddening of the skin caused by excessive exposure to low-energy ionizing radiation that eventually caused cancerous lesions.

Grenz Rays

X-rays with energies of 10 to 20 kVp, used to treat skin diseases such as ringworm.

Cytogenetics

Study of cell genetics with an emphasis on chromosomes.

Karyotype

Photograph of the human cell nucleus during metaphase, used as a chromosome map.

Metaphase

Phase of mitosis in which chromosome damage from radiation exposure can be evaluated.

Pluripotential Stem Cell

Cells in the hematopoietic system develop from this type of stem cell.