From Textbook (Anatomy Vocabulary) - Unit 8: The Respiratory System

ABO blood group

Category that includes blood types A, B, AB, and O. Blood types are inherited. Each blood type has its own antigens on the erythrocytes and antibodies in the plasma against other blood types.

agranulocyte

Category of leukocytes with few or no granules in the cytoplasm. It includes lymphocytes and monocytes.

albumin

Most abundant plasma protein. Plasma proteins contribute to the osmotic pressure of the blood.

band

Immature neutrophil in the blood. It has a nucleus shaped like a curved band. It is also known as a stab.

basophil

Type of leukocyte. It is categorized as a granulocyte because it has many large granules in its cytoplasm, and they stain dark blue to purple with basic dye. Basophils release histamine and heparin at the site of tissue injury. Basophils are also known as basos.

blood

Type of connective tissue that contains formed elements (blood cells and blood cell fragments), water, proteins, and clotting factors. The blood transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste products of metabolism.

electrolytes

Molecules that carry a positive or negative electrical charge: sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca++), chloride (Cl-), and bicarbonate (HCO3-). They are in the plasma.

eosinophil

Type of leukocyte. It is categorized as a granulocyte because it has many large granules in its cytoplasm, and they stain bright pink to red with eosin dye. The nucleus has two lobes. Eosinophils release chemicals to destroy foreign cells (pollen, animal dander, dust, etc.) and kill parasites. Eosinophils are also known as eos.

erythrocyte

A mature red blood cell. An erythroblast is a very immature form that comes from a stem cell in the red marrow. It matures into a normoblast, which becomes a reticulocyte, a nearly mature erythrocyte that is released into the blood. An erythrocyte has no nucleus. Erythrocytes contain hemoglobin.

erythropoietin

Hormone secreted by the kidneys to increase the speed at which erythrocytes are produced and become mature

granulocyte

Category of leukocytes with many large granules in its cytoplasm. It includes neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.

hematopoiesis

Process by which all of the formed elements in the blood are produced in the red marrow

hemoglobin

Red, iron-containing molecule in an erythrocyte that contains a heme molecule and globin chains. The heme molecule contains iron that gives erythrocytes their red color. Oxyhemoglobin is a compound of hemoglobin that carries oxygen from the lungs to the cells and carries carbon dioxide from the cells to the lungs.

leukocyte

A white blood cell. There are five different types of mature leukocytes: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes.

lymphocyte

Second most abundant leukocyte, but the smallest in size. It is categorized as an agranulocyte as there are few or no granules in its cytoplasm. The cytoplasm is only a thin ring next to the round nucleus. A lymphoblast is an immature form that develops from a stem cell in the red marrow. Lymphocytes in the red marrow become NK cells or become B lymphocytes that produce antibodies. Lymphocytes in the thymus become T lymphocytes that produce toxic granules to destroy cells infected with a virus. Lymphocytes are also known as lymphs.

monocyte

The largest leukocyte. It is categorized as an agranulocyte as there are few or no granules in its cytoplasm. The nucleus is shaped like a kidney bean. A monoblast is an immature form that comes from a stem cell in the red marrow. Monocytes are phagocytes that engulf and destroy microorganisms, cancerous cells, dead leukocytes, and cellular debris. They also produce interferon, interleukin, and tumor necrosis factor. Monocytes are also known as monos. In the tissues, they are known as macrophages.

myelocyte

Immature cell that comes from a myeloblast in the red marrow and develops into either a neutrophil, eosinophil, or basophil

neutrophil

Most numerous type of leukocyte. It is categorized as a granulocyte because it has many large, pale granules in its cytoplasm, and they do not easily stain red or blue, but remain neutral in color. The nucleus has several segmented lobes. Neutrophils are phagocytes that engulf and destroy bacteria. Neutrophils are also known as segmented neutrophils, segmenters, segs, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, polys, or PMNs.

plasma

Clear, straw-colored liquid portion of the blood that carries formed elements (blood cells and blood cell fragments) and contains nutrients from digested foods (amino acids, cholesterol, triglycerides, electrolytes, glucose, minerals, and vitamins)—as well as substances provided by the liver or glands (albumin, bilirubin, hormones, complement proteins, clotting factors), and waste products of cellular metabolism (creatinine and urea) produced by the body.

Rh blood group

Category of blood type. When the Rh factor is present, the blood is Rh positive. Without the Rh factor, the blood is Rh negative.

stem cell

Extremely immature cell in the red marrow that is the precursor to all types of blood cells

thrombocyte

A platelet. A megakaryoblast is a very immature form that develops from a stem cell in the red marrow. A megakaryocyte is a very large, mature cell with a large amount of cytoplasm that breaks away in individual pieces as thrombocytes. A thrombocyte is a cell fragment that does not have a nucleus. Thrombocytes are active in the blood clotting process.

aggregation

Process of thrombocytes (platelets) sticking to a damaged blood vessel wall and forming clumps

clotting factors

A series of 12 substances that are released either from platelets or injured tissue or are produced by the liver. They activate each other in a series of steps that form fibrin strands that trap erythrocytes and form a blood clot.

coagulation

Formation of a blood clot by platelets, erythrocytes, and clotting factors

fibrin

Strands formed by the activation of clotting factors. Fibrin traps erythrocytes to form a blood clot.

fibrinogen

Blood clotting factor I

hemostasis

The cessation of bleeding

prothrombin

Blood clotting factor II. It is activated just before the thrombus (blood clot) is formed.

serum

Fluid portion of the plasma that remains after the clotting factors are activated to form a blood clot

thromboplastin

Blood clotting factor III. It is also known as tissue factor because it is released when tissue is injured.

thrombus

A blood clot

active immunity

The body's continuing immune response and defense against pathogens it has seen before. It is provided by immunoglobulin G. For the fetus, IgG passes from the mother's blood through the placenta to provide active immunity.

antibody

Produced by a B cell when it becomes a plasma cell. It is also known as an immunoglobulin.

antigen

Protein marker on the cell membrane of an erythrocyte that indicates the blood type. Also, a protein marker on the cell wall of a pathogen or on a cancerous cell that allows the immune system to recognize it as foreign.

B cell

Type of lymphocyte that matures in the red marrow of the bone. B cells are activated when a monocyte presents them with fragments from an eaten pathogen. Then the B cells become plasma cells that make antibodies. B cells also activate helper T cells.

complement proteins

Group of nine proteins in the plasma (C1–C9). When antibodies coat a bacterium, virus, cancer cell, or infected cell, complement proteins kill it by drilling holes in it.

endotoxin

Toxic substance produced by some bacteria. It acts as a poison in the body, causing chills, fever, and shock. Endotoxins are destroyed by tumor necrosis factor.

histamine

Released by basophils. It dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow to damaged tissue, which produces redness. It also allows protein molecules and water to leak out of blood vessels into the tissue, which produces edema (swelling).

IgA

Immunoglobulin A. Antibody present in body secretions (tears, saliva, mucus, and breast milk) and on the surface of the skin. It gives passive immunity to a breastfeeding infant.

IgD

Immunoglobulin D. Antibody present on the surface of B cells. It activates the B cell to become a plasma cell.

IgE

Immunoglobulin E. Antibody present on the surface of basophils. It causes them to release histamine and heparin during allergic and inflammatory reactions.

IgG

Immunoglobulin G. Antibody that provides active immunity. It is the smallest of all the immunoglobulins, but also the most abundant. During pregnancy, it crosses the placenta and provides passive immunity to the fetus.

IgM

Immunoglobulin M. Antibody that is produced by plasma cells during the initial exposure to a pathogen. IgM also reacts to incompatible blood types during a blood transfusion. It is the largest of the immunoglobulins.

immune response

Coordinated effort between the blood and lymphatic system to identify and destroy invading microorganisms or foreign particles, or cancerous cells produced within the body

immunoglobulins

Antibodies. There are five classes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM.

interferon

Substance produced by monocytes that have engulfed a virus. It stimulates other cells to produce an antiviral substance that prevents the virus from entering them to reproduce itself.

interleukin

Substance produced by monocytes that stimulates B cell and T cell lymphocytes and NK cells. It also produces fever.

lymph

Fluid that flows through the lymphatic system

lymph nodes

Small, encapsulated pieces of lymphoid tissue. They are grouped together in chains in areas where there is a high rate of invasion by microorganisms or cancer cells. Macrophages in the lymph nodes destroy pathogens and cancerous cells in the lymph fluid. They are also known as lymph glands.

lymphatic system

Body system that includes a network of lymphatic vessels, lymph fluid, lymph nodes, the lymphoid organs (thymus, spleen), and lymphoid tissues (tonsils and adenoids, appendix, and Peyer's patches).

lymphatic vessels

Vessels that begin as capillaries, carry lymph, continue through lymph nodes, and end at ducts that empty into large veins in the neck.

macrophage

A large monocyte in the lymph nodes, intestine, liver, pancreas, thymus, spleen, bone, and skin

natural killer (NK) cell

Type of lymphocyte that matures in the red marrow and, without the help of antibodies or complement proteins, recognizes and destroys cancer cells or cells infected with a virus

passive immunity

Immune response and defense against pathogens that is conveyed by the mother's antibodies via colostrum to the breastfeeding baby. These maternal antibodies provide protection from all the diseases the mother has had.

pathogen

Microorganism that causes a disease. Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, as well as plant cells such as fungi or yeast.

phagocyte

Type of leukocyte that engulfs microorganisms, foreign cells, cancerous cells, and cellular debris and destroys them with digestive enzymes. Phagocytes include neutrophils and monocytes. Phagocytosis is the process by which a phagocyte engulfs and destroys a pathogen.

spleen

Lymphoid organ located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, posterior to the stomach. The spleen removes old erythrocytes, breaking their hemoglobin into heme and globin chains. It also acts as a storage area for whole blood. Its lymphoid tissue contains B cell and T cell lymphocytes.

T cell

Type of lymphocyte that matures in the thymus. There are four subsets of T cells: helper T cells (CD4 cells), memory T cells, cytotoxic T cells, and suppressor T cells (CD8 cells).

thymus

Lymphoid organ in the mediastinum. As an endocrine gland, it secretes thymosins, which are hormones that cause lymphoblasts in the thymus to mature into T cell lymphocytes.

tumor necrosis factor (TNF)

Substance that destroys endotoxins produced by certain bacteria. It also destroys cancerous cells.