Principles of Biomed Sciences 2.1.4 - 2.1.6 2022.23

Flashcards for Unit 2.1 Assessment for PLTW: PBS

Red blood cell

Carries oxygen; contains hemoglobin

Platelets

Clots blood; small proteins

White blood cell

Fights infection; large, purple cells

Plasma

Liquid part of blood; measured by hematocrit

complete blood count (CBC)

counts numbers of each component of blood

Phlebotomy

Process of collecting blood for testing

Median cubital vein

The vein of choice for blood draw; large and easy to see on front of elbow

Hemoglobin

Protein in RBCs that carries oxygen

Hematocrit

the ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of blood

Leukemia

Cancer of WBCs; too many WBCs on a blood smear slide

Sickle cell disease

Genetic disorder; hook shaped RBCs on a blood smear slide

Cholesterol

A lipid that makes up cell membranes and steroid hormones; helps absorb some vitamins

LDL

"Bad" cholesterol; forms plaques in arteries

HDL

"Good" cholesterol; carries LDL to liver, removing it from arteries

Risk factors

Anything that increases your chances of developing a disease or injury

Saturated fat

Lipid in animal fats, high in LDL

Unsaturated fat

Lipid in plant-based fats; high in HDL

Plaque

Deposit of lipids on lining of artery walls; can cause heart attack, stroke, or embolism

Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)

Blood tests that measure certain components of blood, including glucose, electrolytes, BUN, and creatinine

Glucose

The simplest form of carbohydrates (sugar)

Electrolytes

Minerals that help maintain the body's fluid balance

BUN

blood urea nitrogen; should be filtered out of blood by kidneys

Type I Diabetes

Pancreas doesn't produce insulin; blood glucose stays high

Type II Diabetes

Insulin is produced, but doesn't work in receptors; insulin and blood glucose stay high

Carbohydrates

Starches and sugars; body's first choice for energy

Proteins

Nutrients the body uses to build and maintain its cells and tissues; made of amino acids; body's third choice for energy

Lipids

Fats and oils; body's second choice for energy

Nucleic acids

DNA and RNA; used to carry genetic information; not used for energy

Mitochondria

Part of the cell where glucose is broken down to make ATP (cellular energy)

ATP

Main energy "currency" of the cell. Carbs, lipids, and proteins are metabolized to make this

Metabolized

A biomolecule is broken down in the digestive system, then in the body's cells, to extract building blocks and energy

Hormone

A molecule (usually a protein) that affects the activities of a cell

Insulin

Made in the pancreas; binds to insulin receptors to "unlock" the body's cells and let glucose in to be used for energy

Insulin receptor

The "lock" on the cell's surface; insulin must bind here in order for glucose to be allowed into the cell

Glucose transporter

The "door" for glucose to travel from the bloodstream into the cell

Cell membrane

The outside of the cell; separates the cell from its environment

Hyperglycemia

high blood sugar

Pancreas

Endocrine organ that makes insulin and glucagon

Glucagon

Hormone that signals the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream; raises blood glucose levels

Positive feedback loop

Causes a system to change further in the same direction; stimulus builds until there is a crash

negative feedback loop

Causes a system to change in the opposite direction; ends the original stimulus

continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)

Wearable technology that measures blood glucose automatically; may be linked to an insulin pump

HIPAA

Laws that protect patient's privacy of medical and personal information