Studied by 196 people
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
Note 
Flashcard (105)