Anatomy Unit 9 Vocabulary

Coagulation

The process by which the enzyme thrombin and the protein fibrinogen combine to form fibrin, a fiber that that weaves around the platelet plug to form a blood clot; takes between 2 and 15 minutes to complete

Diapedesis

The passage of blood, or any of its formed elements, through the blood vessel walls into body tissues

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells; contain hemoglobin, a protein responsible for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange

Erythropoiesis

The process by which red blood cells are produced

Fibrin

A long, thread-like fiber created by the combination of thrombin and fibrinogen; weaves around the platelet plug to form a blood clot

Hematocrit

The percentage of total blood volume that is composed of red blood cells

Hematopoiesis

Process of red blood cell formation and development

Hemoglobin

An essential molecule of the red blood cell that serves as the binding site for oxygen and carbon dioxide

Hemolysis

The rupture of red blood cells as a result of disease or old age

Hemostasis

The sequence of events that caused a blood clot to form and bleeding to stop

Leukocytes

White blood cells; fight infection and protect the body through various mechanisms

Platelets

Part of the formed elements of the blood; play a vital role in blood clotting

Agglutination

The process by which red blood cells clump together, usually in response to an antibody; can block small blood vessels and cause hemolysis

Antibody

A cell that circulates in plasma and attacks red blood cells with foreign antigens, or antigens that are different from those of the host

Antigen

A protein on the surface of RBCs that is used to identify blood type; a molecule on the surface of cells that identifies cells as either “self” or “nonself” (foreign) cells

Anemia

A condition characterized by a decrease in the number of red blood cells or an insufficient amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells

Hemophilia

A condition in which blood does not clot properly due to the absence of a clotting factor

Jaundice

A blood disorder characterized by yellow-colored skin and whites of the eyes

Leukemia

A cancer caused by the production of an extremely high number of immature white blood cells in the bone marrow

Phlebotomy

The drawing of blood; a standard treatment for polycythemia