Chapter 10 – The Blood System

agglutin/o

meaning clumping

eosin

Rosy-red dye or color

erythr/o

Combining form meaning red

hemo, hemat/o

Combining forms meaning blood

leuk/o

Combining form meaning white

phag/o

Combining form meaning eating or devouring

blood

Fluid that transports nutrients, oxygen, and hormones throughout the body

plasma

Clear liquid portion of blood; more than half of total blood volume

platelets (thrombocytes)

Cell fragments that circulate in blood and are essential for clotting

albumin

Major plasma protein that helps regulate osmotic pressure

globulin

Plasma protein group that includes antibodies

fibrinogen

Plasma protein converted to fibrin during clotting

prothrombin

Plasma protein that is converted to thrombin in the clotting process

plasma proteins

Albumin, globulin, fibrinogen, and prothrombin; regulate water balance and clotting

gamma globulins

Immunoglobulins produced in lymphatic tissue; part of immune system

electrophoresis

Laboratory process that separates plasma proteins by electrical charge

plasmapheresis

Procedure that removes plasma from blood and returns red cells to patient

coagulation

Process of blood clot formation

thromboplastin

Protein released from damaged tissue that initiates clotting

fibrin clot

Mesh of fibrin threads that forms the final blood clot

thrombin

Enzyme that converts fibrinogen to fibrin during clotting

heparin

Natural anticoagulant that prevents clot formation in normal circulation

red blood cells (RBCs, erythrocytes)

Cells whose primary role is to carry oxygen

white blood cells (WBCs, leukocytes)

Cells that defend the body against infection

hematocrit

Laboratory measure of the percentage of packed red blood cells in blood

stem cells

Immature blood-forming cells found in bone marrow

granulocytes

WBCs with granules; released during infections, allergies, asthma

basophils

Granulocytes that release heparin and histamine

eosinophils

Granulocytes that remove unwanted particles and combat parasites

neutrophils

Granulocytes that kill parasites and help control inflammation

agranulocytes

WBCs without granules that coordinate immune defense

lymphocytes

Agranulocytes vital to adaptive immune response

monocytes

Agranulocytes that destroy large unwanted particles

erythropoietin

Kidney hormone that stimulates RBC production

hemoglobin

Iron-containing protein in RBCs that carries oxygen

heme

Iron-containing pigment portion of hemoglobin

globin

Protein portion of hemoglobin molecule

histamine

Substance released in allergic reactions causing vasodilation

megakaryocytes

Large bone-marrow cells that shed fragments forming platelets

Blood type A

Has A antigen and anti-B antibodies; donates to A and AB

Blood type B

Has B antigen and anti-A antibodies; donates to B and AB

Blood type AB

Has A and B antigens; universal recipient; donates only to AB

Blood type O

Lacks A and B antigens; has both antibodies; universal donor

agglutination

Clumping of antigens and antibodies that can obstruct blood flow

Rh factor

Red-cell antigen first found in rhesus monkeys

Rh-positive

Blood that carries the Rh antigen

Rh-negative

Blood lacking the Rh antigen

agglutinogens

Antigens that trigger agglutination

eosinopenia

Abnormally low eosinophil count

leukoblast

Immature white blood cell

phagocyte

Cell that engulfs and digests foreign material

hemodialysis

External procedure that filters waste and water from blood

cytoplasm

Gel-like substance inside a cell membrane

complete blood count (CBC)

Common screening test measuring various blood components

blood chemistry

Plasma test that measures numerous dissolved substances

biochemistry panel

Automated group of blood chemistry tests for disease screening

blood indices

Measurements of RBC size, volume, and hemoglobin content

blood culture

Test that detects infection in the bloodstream

erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Rate at which RBCs settle; indicator of inflammation

WBC differential/RBC morphology

Counts each type of leukocyte and examines red cell shape

platelet count (PLT)

Number of thrombocytes in blood sample

partial thromboplastin time (PTT)

Test that detects intrinsic coagulation defects

prothrombin time (PT)

Test that measures extrinsic clotting pathway

antiglobulin (Coombs’) test

Detects antibodies bound to RBCs

white blood count (WBC)

Number of leukocytes per blood volume

red blood count (RBC)

Number of erythrocytes per blood volume

hemoglobin test (HGB)

Measurement of hemoglobin concentration in blood

hematocrit test (HCT)

Measurement of packed RBC volume percentage

phlebotomy / venipuncture

Withdrawal of blood, most common diagnostic procedure

bone marrow biopsy

Removal of marrow sample to diagnose blood disorders

bone marrow transplant (BMT)

Replacement of diseased marrow with healthy donor cells

anticoagulants

Drugs that prevent blood clotting

thrombolytics

Medications that dissolve existing clots

coagulants

Agents that promote clot formation

hemostatics

Substances that stop bleeding, e.g., vitamin K

remission

Disappearance of disease signs and symptoms

relapse

Return of disease after improvement

dyscrasia

General term for any blood disease with abnormal material

anemia

Condition in which RBCs fail to deliver adequate oxygen

iron-deficiency anemia

Anemia due to inadequate iron and low hemoglobin

aplastic anemia

Failure of bone marrow to produce sufficient RBCs

pernicious anemia

Anemia caused by impaired vitamin B₁₂ absorption altering RBC shape

sickle cell anemia

Hereditary disease with sickle-shaped RBCs and membrane breakdown

thalassemia

Inherited disorder causing inadequate hemoglobin production

von Willebrand disease

Bleeding tendency due to deficient von Willebrand clotting factor

hemophilia

Hereditary deficiency of specific clotting factors

thrombocytopenia

Low platelet count causing bleeding tendency

purpura

Condition with multiple small skin hemorrhages

pancytopenia

Deficiency of all cellular blood components

erythropenia

Abnormally low red blood cell count

polycythemia

Excessive RBCs and hemoglobin concentration

hemolysis

Destruction of RBC membranes

leukemia

Malignant overproduction of white blood cells

myeloblast disorder

Condition where immature granulocytes invade bone marrow

erythroblastosis fetalis

Rh incompatibility disease of fetus/newborn

multiple myeloma

Malignant tumor of plasma cells in bone marrow