Hematology and Blood Physiology

Vocabulary flashcards covering blood components, blood typing, anemia classifications, hemostasis, plasma proteins, and clotting mechanisms.

Thrombus

An unwanted blood clot.

Embolus

A piece of a blood clot that breaks away and is moving through the bloodstream.

Embolism

A condition occurring when a piece of a blood clot has blocked a blood vessel.

Antigen

Anything that triggers an immune response.

Antibody / Immunoglobulin

A gamma globulin shaped protein made in response to an antigen.

Blood Type A

A blood type characterized by having A antigens on the red blood cells and Anti-B antibodies in the plasma.

Blood Type B

A blood type characterized by having B antigens on the red blood cells and Anti-A antibodies in the plasma.

Blood Type AB

A blood type possessing both A and B antigens, and neither Anti-A nor Anti-B antibodies.

Blood Type O

A blood type possessing neither A nor B antigens, and containing both Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies.

Rh Factor (Rhesus Factor)

An antigen system where individuals designated positive (+) possess the Rh factor, while those designated negative (-) do not.

Thrombocytopenia

A low platelet count that causes an individual to bleed too easily.

Plasma Proteins

The most abundant solute of plasma, comprising albumins, globulins, and fibrinogen.

Albumins

The smallest and most abundant plasma proteins.

Hypoproteinemia

A condition of having less protein in the blood, which can lead to edema.

Edema

A condition characterized by more fluid accumulating in tissues, occurring when plasma protein (albumin) levels are low.

Alpha and Beta Globulins

Plasma globulins synthesized in the liver.

Fibrinogen

A plasma protein essential for blood clotting.

Hemostasis

The physiological process of stopping bleeding.

Polycythemia (Erythrocytosis)

A condition characterized by red blood cell ($\text{RBC}$) levels being too high.

Anemia

A condition characterized by red blood cell ($\text{RBC}$) count or hemoglobin levels being too low.

Hemorrhagic Anemia

A form of anemia caused by hemorrhage.

Hemolytic Anemia

A form of anemia caused by bacterial infections and blood transfusion reactions.

Pernicious Anemia

A form of anemia caused by inadequate vitamin $B_{12}$ absorption.

Aplastic Anemia

A specific type of anemia resulting in decreased red blood cell production.

Iron ($\text{Fe}$)

The essential mineral required for maintaining healthy blood.

Intrinsic Factor

A substance produced in the stomach and used in the small intestine for the absorption of vitamin $B_{12}$.

Vitamin C

A vitamin that is strictly required in order to absorb iron for healthy blood.

Spleen

The organ that filters out worn-out red blood cells ($\text{RBC}$s) before they are broken down and recycled with the help of the liver.

Biliverdin

A green pigment produced by the liver during the breakdown and recycling of red blood cells.

Bilirubin

An orange pigment produced by the liver during the breakdown and recycling of red blood cells.

Vascular Spasm

The initial step of hemostasis in which platelets produce serotonin to cause vasoconstriction.

Platelet Plug Formation

The second step of hemostasis, occurring after vascular spasm.

Blood Coagulation

The third step of hemostasis, referring to the process of blood clotting.

Vitamin K

The vitamin required for blood clotting.

Calcium ($Ca^{2+}$)

The mineral and electrolyte required for blood clotting.

Extrinsic Blood Clotting Mechanism

A clotting mechanism triggered by trauma or injury outside the body.

Intrinsic Blood Clotting Mechanism

A clotting mechanism initiated by a foreign surface inside a blood vessel, such as plaque.

Prothrombin Time (PT Time)

A test measuring how long it takes blood to clot, commonly evaluated in relation to blood thinners (anticoagulants).

Serum

Blood plasma minus fibrinogen and clotting factors.

Universal Recipient

The blood type ($\text{AB+}$) that can safely receive red blood cells from any ABO and Rh blood type.

Universal Donor

The blood type ($\text{O-}$) that can donate red blood cells to individuals of any ABO and Rh blood type.

Rh Blood Transfusion Compatibility Rule

An Rh-negative individual can only receive Rh-negative blood, whereas an Rh-positive individual can receive both Rh-positive and Rh-negative blood.

Erythroblastosis Fetalis

A severe pregnancy complication (hemolytic disease of the newborn) in which anti-Rh antibodies from an Rh-negative mother cross the placenta and destroy the red blood cells of an Rh-positive fetus.

RhoGAM

An injection administered to an Rh-negative mother carrying an Rh-positive fetus at $28\,\text{weeks}$ of gestation and within $72\,\text{hours}$ of delivery to prevent maternal antibody production.

Veins

Vascular structures that carry blood toward the heart, predominantly carrying deoxygenated blood.

Venules

Microscopic vessels that collect blood from capillary networks and empty into larger draining vessels.

Arteries

Vascular structures that transport blood away from the heart, predominantly carrying oxygenated blood.

Arterioles

Small branches of arterial vessels that deliver blood directly into capillary beds.

Capillaries

The smallest and thinnest blood vessels, connecting arterioles to venules, that serve as the primary site of gas and nutrient exchange.

Pulmonary Circuit

The circulatory route that transports blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide before returning it to the heart.

Systemic Circuit

The circulatory route that delivers oxygenated blood to body tissues and returns deoxygenated blood and carbon dioxide back to the heart.

Mediastinum

The central compartment of the thoracic cavity between the lungs where the heart is located, tilted toward the left side.

Cardiac Septum

The internal muscular wall dividing the heart into right and left halves.

Atria

The two superior receiving chambers of the heart.

Ventricles

The two inferior muscular pumping chambers of the heart.

Interatrial Septum

The internal wall of tissue that separates the right and left atria.

Interventricular Septum

The thick muscular wall of tissue that separates the right and left ventricles.

Pericardium

The double-walled serous fluid sac enclosing, protecting, and lubricating the heart.

Epicardium

The visceral layer of the serous pericardium forming the outermost layer of the heart wall.

Myocardium

The middle, contractile muscular layer of the heart wall responsible for pumping blood.

Endocardium

The smooth, thin inner epithelial layer lining the internal cavities and valves of the heart.

Atrioventricular (AV) Valves

The heart valves located between the upper receiving and lower pumping chambers that prevent backflow into the atria.

Tricuspid Valve

The right atrioventricular valve composed of three cusps located between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Bicuspid (Mitral) Valve

The left atrioventricular valve composed of two cusps located between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Chordae Tendineae

Fibrous connective cords ('heart strings') anchoring atrioventricular valves to papillary muscles to prevent valve prolapse during ventricular contraction.

Auricles

Ear-shaped, expandable exterior muscular flaps on the atria that increase the blood-holding capacity of the chambers.

Semilunar (SL) Valves

The crescent-shaped cardiac valves located at the exits of the ventricles that prevent blood from flowing back into the pumping chambers.

Pulmonary Valve

The semilunar valve through which blood exits the right ventricle into the pulmonary trunk.

Aortic Valve

The semilunar valve through which blood exits the left ventricle into the systemic aorta.

Venae Cavae

The largest systemic veins in the body (superior and inferior) that return deoxygenated blood into the right atrium.

Aorta

The largest artery in the human body, conducting oxygenated blood under pressure from the left ventricle into systemic circulation.

Ischemia

A restriction or deficiency of blood supply to an organ or tissue, causing localized oxygen deprivation.

Infarction

Localized tissue death (necrosis) resulting from an abrupt and severe interruption of arterial blood supply.

Myocardial Infarction ($\text{MI}$)

A heart attack resulting from prolonged cardiac ischemia that leads to irreversible damage and necrosis of heart muscle cells.

Angina Pectoris

Severe, squeezing chest pain triggered by temporary myocardial ischemia and oxygen deficiency without permanent tissue death.

Sinoatrial ($\text{SA}$) Node

The specialized cluster of cardiac conducting cells in the right atrium that serves as the natural primary pacemaker of the heart.

Atrioventricular ($\text{AV}$) Node

The specialized cardiac electrical relay station that briefly delays impulses from the atria before passing them to the ventricles.

Bundle of His (AV Bundle)

The specialized electrical pathway traversing the interventricular septum to convey cardiac impulses toward the apex.

Purkinje Fibers

Specialized conducting fibers branching through the outer ventricular myocardial walls to stimulate simultaneous ventricular contraction.

Electrocardiogram ($\text{ECG / EKG}$)

A composite recording of electrical currents and impulse propagation through the heart muscle during the cardiac cycle.

Cardiac Depolarization

The electrical activation of myocardial cells that triggers mechanical contraction (systole).

Cardiac Repolarization

The electrical recovery of myocardial cells returning to their resting state, resulting in mechanical relaxation (diastole).

P Wave

The deflection on an electrocardiogram tracing representing electrical depolarization of the atria.

QRS Complex

The prominent deflection on an electrocardiogram tracing representing electrical depolarization of the ventricles.

T Wave

The deflection on an electrocardiogram tracing representing electrical repolarization of the ventricles.

Masking of Atrial Repolarization

The phenomenon wherein atrial repolarization does not appear as a distinct ECG wave because it is obscured by the simultaneous, larger QRS complex.

Folic Acid

A B vitamin strictly required alongside vitamin $B_{12}$ and iron for normal red blood cell development and blood health.