Chapter 8 – Blood and Lymphatic System

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key combining forms, anatomical structures, blood and lymph components, immunology terms, symptomatic and diagnostic vocabulary, laboratory tests, operative and therapeutic procedures, and common drug classes from Chapter 8 – Blood and Lymphatic System.

blast/o (-blast)

Combining form meaning germ or bud; refers to an immature or embryonic cell.

chrom/o, chromat/o

Combining forms meaning color.

chyl/o

Combining form meaning juice; specifically lymphatic fluid rich in fats.

cyt/o

Combining form meaning cell.

hem/o, hemat/o

Combining forms meaning blood.

immun/o

Combining form meaning immune, resistant, or safe.

lymph/o

Combining form meaning clear fluid or lymph.

morph/o

Combining form meaning form or shape.

myel/o

Combining form meaning bone marrow (or spinal cord in other contexts).

phag/o

Combining form meaning eat or swallow.

plas/o

Combining form meaning formation or development.

reticul/o

Combining form meaning a net; network.

splen/o

Combining form meaning spleen.

thromb/o

Combining form meaning clot.

thym/o

Combining form meaning thymus gland.

blood

Circulating connective tissue composed of plasma and formed elements (RBCs, WBCs, platelets).

plasma

Liquid portion of blood and lymph containing water, proteins, and electrolytes.

serum

Liquid portion of blood remaining after clotting has occurred.

erythrocyte (red blood cell, RBC)

Formed element that transports oxygen and carbon dioxide via hemoglobin.

hemoglobin

Protein–iron compound in erythrocytes that binds and transports oxygen and carbon dioxide.

platelet (thrombocyte)

Cell fragment essential for blood clotting (coagulation).

leukocyte (white blood cell, WBC)

Cell that protects the body from harmful substances; includes granulocytes and agranulocytes.

neutrophil

Granular leukocyte that performs phagocytosis; stains neutrally; also called polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN).

polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)

Another term for neutrophil, referring to its segmented nucleus.

basophil

Granular leukocyte that brings anticoagulant substances to inflamed tissues; stains dark blue-purple.

eosinophil

Granular leukocyte that increases in allergic and parasitic reactions; stains rosy-pink.

agranulocyte

Leukocyte without cytoplasmic granules; includes monocytes and lymphocytes.

monocyte

Agranulocyte that performs phagocytosis to fight infection.

lymphocyte

Agranulocyte active in immunity; includes T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells.

lymphatic system

Network of vessels, nodes, and organs that drains lymph into the blood and supports immunity.

thymus

Primary lymphatic gland in the mediastinum producing T lymphocytes for immune response.

spleen

Organ between the stomach and diaphragm that filters blood, removes debris, and supports immune function.

lymph

Clear fluid circulated through lymphatic vessels.

lymph capillary

Microscopic vessel that absorbs interstitial fluid and begins lymph flow.

lymph vessel

Vessel that transports lymph toward the thoracic or right lymphatic duct.

lacteal

Specialized lymph capillary in the small intestine that absorbs fats.

chyle

Milky lymph rich in fats absorbed by lacteals.

lymph node

Small oval structure that filters lymph; clustered in cervical, axillary, inguinal regions.

lymph duct

Collecting channel that returns lymph to venous circulation.

right lymphatic duct

Duct receiving lymph from right upper quadrant of body.

thoracic duct

Major duct draining lymph from most of the body into the venous system.

immunity

Process of disease protection induced by exposure to an antigen.

antigen

Substance that triggers formation of antibodies when introduced into the body.

antibody

Protein produced by the body that neutralizes or destroys an antigen.

active immunity

Long-lasting immunity resulting from the body’s own antibody production (natural infection or vaccination).

passive immunity

Short-term immunity from transfer of ready-made antibodies (placenta or serum injection).

natural immunity

Active immunity acquired after exposure to a natural infection.

artificial immunity

Active immunity acquired after administration of a vaccine.

microcytosis

Presence of abnormally small red blood cells.

hypochromic

Having less than normal color; pale RBCs due to low hemoglobin.

macrocytosis

Presence of abnormally large red blood cells.

anisocytosis

Variation in RBC size within the same blood sample.

poikilocytosis

Presence of irregularly shaped red blood cells.

reticulocytosis

Increased number of immature erythrocytes (reticulocytes) in blood.

erythropenia

Abnormally reduced number of red blood cells.

lymphocytopenia

Abnormally reduced number of lymphocytes.

neutropenia

Decreased number of neutrophils.

pancytopenia

Deficiency of all cellular components of blood (RBCs, WBCs, platelets).

thrombocytopenia

Abnormally low platelet count, impairing clotting.

hemolysis

Destruction or breakdown of RBC membranes.

immunocompromised

Having impaired immune defenses due to disorder or therapy.

immunosuppression

Reduced ability to mount an immune response.

lymphadenopathy

Disease or enlargement of lymph nodes.

splenomegaly

Enlargement of the spleen.

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

HIV-induced syndrome that weakens immunity, allowing opportunistic infections and cancers.

anemia

Condition with reduced RBCs or hemoglobin, lowering oxygen transport.

aplastic anemia

Anemia due to bone marrow failure to produce RBCs (normocytic-normochromic).

iron deficiency anemia

Microcytic-hypochromic anemia from inadequate iron for hemoglobin synthesis.

pernicious anemia

Macrocytic anemia from vitamin B₁₂ deficiency causing large, immature RBCs.

autoimmune disease

Disorder in which immune system attacks the body’s own tissues (e.g., lupus).

erythroblastosis fetalis

Hemolytic disease of fetus/newborn due to Rh incompatibility (Rh- mother, Rh+ fetus).

Rh factor

Antigen on RBC surface that determines Rh+ or Rh– blood type.

Rh positive (Rh+)

Presence of Rh antigen on red blood cells.

Rh negative (Rh−)

Absence of Rh antigen on red blood cells.

hemochromatosis

Hereditary disorder causing excessive iron accumulation in the body.

hemophilia

Group of hereditary bleeding disorders from clotting-factor deficiencies.

leukemia

Malignant disease of blood-forming organs with abnormal leukocytes in blood and marrow.

myelodysplasia

Bone marrow disorder with abnormal stem-cell proliferation; can progress to leukemia.

lymphoma

Malignant neoplasm of lymph tissue, such as Hodgkin disease.

metastasis

Spread of cancer cells via blood or lymph to distant sites (plural: metastases).

mononucleosis

EBV-caused condition with increased monocytes/lymphocytes, lymphadenopathy, fatigue, sore throat.

polycythemia

Excessive number of RBCs and hemoglobin in blood.

septicemia

Systemic illness from microorganisms and their toxins in circulating blood.

phlebotomy (venotomy)

Incision or puncture of a vein to withdraw blood for testing.

blood chemistry

Laboratory test measuring chemical constituents of plasma (e.g., glucose).

basic metabolic panel (BMP)

Battery of blood chemistry tests screening for general disorders (e.g., electrolytes, BUN).

comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)

Expanded BMP including liver enzymes, proteins, bilirubin, etc.

blood culture

Test that detects bloodstream infection by growing microorganisms from blood sample.

CD4 cell count

Measurement of CD4 T-lymphocyte numbers; monitors HIV/AIDS progression.

erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Timed test measuring rate at which RBCs settle; indicates inflammation.

partial thromboplastin time (PTT)

Test for coagulation defects involving intrinsic pathway and platelets.

thromboplastin

Tissue factor essential for initiating blood coagulation.

prothrombin time (PT)

Test measuring activity of prothrombin; reported as INR for standardization.

prothrombin

Plasma protein converted to thrombin in clotting cascade.

complete blood count (CBC)

Panel of tests evaluating RBCs, WBCs, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, etc.

white blood count (WBC)

Number of leukocytes per given blood volume.

red blood count (RBC)

Number of erythrocytes per given blood volume.

hematocrit (HCT)

Percentage of packed RBCs in a blood volume.

blood indices

Calculated values (MCV, MCH, MCHC) describing RBC size and hemoglobin content.

mean corpuscular volume (MCV)

Average volume of individual RBC (HCT ÷ RBC).