Blood, Lymphatic and Immune System

coagulation

the process of becoming viscous or thickened into a coherent mass: the forming of clots

electrolyte

Minerals (such as include sodium, calcium, and potassium) in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways, including: The amount of water in your body. The acidity of your blood (pH) and your muscle function.

erythrocyte

red blood cell

hematology

a medical science that deals with the blood

hemopoiesis

the formation of blood or of blood cells (white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets)

hemostasis

the stopping of blood

homeostasis

maintaining a constant internal environment

megakaryocyte

a large cell responsible for the everyday production and release of platelets into the bloodstream.

leukocyte

a white blood cell. it plays an essential role in defending the body against infection.

phagocyte

a cell (such as a macrophage or neutrophil) that engulfs and consumes foreign material (such as microorganisms) and debris (such as dead tissue cells)

plasma

the fluid part of blood. Plasma is responsible for:

redistributing water where your body needs it.

delivering hormones, nutrients and proteins to parts of your body.

supporting blood vessels from collapsing or clogging

maintaining blood pressure and circulation.

regulating body temperature by absorbing and releasing heat .

removing waste from from cells and transporting it to your liver, lungs and kidneys for excretion.

helping to clot blood.

defense against bacterial, viral fungal and parasitic infections.

thrombocyte

platelet; a cell with clotting functions

thrombus

a clot of blood formed within a blood vessel and remaining attached to its place of origin. a thrombi is the plural from of thrombus and refers to multiple clots.

antigen

any substance that evokes an immune response

antibody

a protein produced by the immune susytem to neutralize pathogens

autoimmune

a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells

endemic

a disease or outbreak of disease that is typically present in a particular region or population: an endemic disease

epidemic

a disease that affects a disproportionally large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time

immunity

the ability of the body to resist infection and disease

pandemic

an outbreak that occurs over a wide geographic area (such as multiple countries or continents) and typically affecting a significant proportion of the population

pathogen

a microorganism that causes disease

macrophage

a type of white blood cell that engulfs and destroys pathogens.

dyscrasia

a nonspecific term that refers to a disease or disorder, especially of the blood

hemorrhage

a heavy discharge of blood from the blood vessels

pancytopenia

low levels of all three blood cell types: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets

septicemia

a serious bloodstream infection. It occurs when a bacterial infection enters the bloodstream from elsewhere in the body

anisocytosis

variation (unequal) size of cells and especially of the red blood cells

anemia

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

hemolytic

pertaining to the destruction of red blood cells

hypochromic

abnormally pale red blood cells. Comes from red blood cells with deficient hemoglobin.

Macrolytic

Pertaining to an exceptionally large red blood cell occuring chiefly in anemias.

Mircrolytic

pertaining to smaller than normal blood cells.

poikilocytosis

an abnormally shaped red blood cell

polycythemia vera

a rare disease in which the body makes too many blood cells

leukemia

a cancer that results in an overproduction of abnormal white blood cells

mononucleosis

a viral infection characterized by an abnormal increase of mononuclear white blood cells in the blood. Symptoms can include fatigue, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes.

leukocytosis

an increase in the number of white blood cells in the circulating blood.

myeloma

a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell. can cause bone pain, weakness, and frequent infections.

coagulopathy

a disease or condition affecting the blood’s ability to coagulate (clot)

embolism

a blocked artery caused by a foreign body such as a blood clot or an air bubble.

hemophiliac

a genetic disorder that is characterized by delayed clotting of the blood.

thrombocytopenia

decrease in the number of platelets in the blood

thrombophilia

an abnormal increase in the tendency of blood to clot and higher than normal risk of thrombosis

thrombosis

the formation or presence of a blood clot within a blood vessel

hypercalcemia

an excess of calcium in the blood. Can lead to digestive systems, increased thirst, muscle weakness, cognitive issues, and bone pain.

hyperkalemia

an abnormally high concentration of potassium in the blood. It can lead to heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, or vomiting.

hypernatremia

the presence of an abnormally high concentration of sodium in the blood. Can cause dehydration, confusion, muscle twitches, and seizures.

hypocalcemia

a deficiency of calcium in the blood. Prolonged low calcium levels can result in poor bone formation, which may result in brittle bones that are prone to fractures.

hypokalemia

a deficiency of potassium in the blood. Can cause constipation, the feeling of skipped heart beats or palpitations, fatigue, muscle damage, muscle weakness or spasms, tingling or numbness.

hyponatremia

the condition of having an abnormally low level of sodium in the blood. Typically marked by nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, fatigue, and muscle cramps and that when severe may be life-threating if untreated.

acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)

lymphadenopathy

abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes.

lymphedema

edema due to faulty lymphatic drainage (swollen lymph nodes)

lymphoma

a usually malignant, cancerous tumore of lymphoid tissue

splenomegaly

abnormal enlargement of the spleen

bone marrow aspiration

aspiration is drawing of something in, out, up, or through by or as if by suctions: such as the withdrawal (as by suction) of fluid or tissue from the body. A bone marrow aspiration is to collect a sample of bone marrow for analysis

complete blood count (CBC)

a complete blood count test measures the following:

red blood cells, which carry oxygen

white blood cells, which fight infection

hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells

hematocrit

the ration (percentage) of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of blood as determined by separation of red blood cells from the plasma usually by centrifugation.

immunization

a process by which a person becomes protected against a disease through vaccination. An immunization stimulates the body’s immune response against specific disease

morphology

the study of the size, shape,

lymphangiogram

an x-ray of the lymph nodes and lymph vessels. The lymph nodes and vessels are not seen on a normal x-ray, so a dye or radioisotope (radioactive compound) is injected into the body to highlight the area being studied.

lymph node biopsy

the removal of lymph node tissue for examination under a microscope

phlebotomy

when a needle is used to take blood from a vein fro medical purposes. Also called a blood draw or venipuncture.

plasmapheresis

the process of obtaining plasma from blood. The process involved the following steps:

whole blood is drawn from a large vein

a machine seperated the liquid portion of blood (plasma) from the red and white blood cells

the cells are trandfused back along with a plasma replacement fluid

splenectomy

surgical removal of the spleen

transfusion

the process of transferring blood or blood prodcuts from one person to another

autologos transfusion

a transfusion where the individual as both donor and recipient

vaccination

Introducing harmless fragments of pathogens to activate the immune response —the presence of a disease-causing organism in the body—to engage the body’s natural defenses. The active ingredient in all vaccines is an antigen, the name for any substance that causes the immune system to begin producing antibodies. In a vaccine, the antigen could help guard against

1) Viruses, like the ones that cause the flu and COVID-19
2) Bacterial infection , including tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis

venipuncture

surgical puncture of a vein especially fro the withdrawal of blood or for intravenous medication

anticoagulant

medication that prevents blood clots

erythropoietin

medication that promotes the production of red blood cells

immunosuppressant

a class of medicines that inhibit or decrease the intensity of the immune response in the body

thrombolytic enzyme

drugs that dissolve a major clot quickly

hematologist

a doctor who has speical training in diagnosing and treating blood disorders

phlebotomist

Phlebotomists primarily draw blood, which is then used fro different kinds of medical laboratory testing ro for procedures, such as transfusion. In medical diagnositc laboratories, patients sometimes interact onlu the the phlebotomist.

medical lab technologist

Technologist that performs complex analyses of tissue, blood and other body fluids.