Blood and Lymphatic System Medical Terminology

Vocabulary flashcards covering diagnostic terms, conditions, and procedures related to the blood and lymphatic systems.

microcytosis

presence of small red blood cells

macrocytosis

presence of large red blood cells

anisocytosis

presence of red blood cells of unequal size (an = not, without; iso = equal)

poikilocytosis

presence of large, irregularly shaped red blood cells (poikilo = irregular)

reticulocytosis

an increased number of immature erythrocytes in the blood

erythropenia

an abnormally reduced number of red blood cells

lymphocytopenia

an abnormally reduced number of lymphocytes

neutropenia

a decreased number of neutrophils

pancytopenia

an abnormally reduced number of all cellular components in the blood

thrombocytopenia

an abnormally decreased number of platelets in the blood, impairing the clotting process

hemolysis

breakdown of the red blood cell membrane

immunocompromised

impaired immunologic defenses caused by an immunodeficiency disorder or by therapy with immunosuppressive agents

immunosuppression

impaired ability to provide an immune response

lymphadenopathy

enlarged (diseased) lymph nodes

splenomegaly

enlargement of the spleen

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

a syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that renders immune cells ineffective, permitting opportunistic infections, malignancies, and neurologic diseases to develop; transmitted sexually or through contaminated blood

anemia

a condition of reduced numbers of red blood cells, or diminished ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen to the tissues

aplastic anemia

a normocytic-normochromic type of anemia characterized by the failure of bone marrow to produce red blood cells

iron deficiency anemia

a microcytic-hypochromic type of anemia characterized by a lack of iron that affects the production of hemoglobin and is characterized by small red blood cells containing low amounts of hemoglobin

pernicious anemia

a macrocytic-normochromic type of anemia characterized by an inadequate supply of vitamin B12, causing red blood cells to become large, varied in shape, and reduced in number

autoimmune disease

any disorder characterized by abnormal function of the immune system that causes the body to produce antibodies against itself, resulting in tissue destruction or loss of function; rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are examples of autoimmune diseases (auto = self)

erythroblastosis fetalis

a disorder that results from the incompatibility of a fetus with Rh-positive blood and a mother with Rh-negative blood, causing red blood cell destruction in the fetus; a blood transfusion is necessary to save the fetus

Rh factor

presence or lack of antigens on the surface of red blood cells, which causes a reaction between Rh-positive blood and Rh-negative blood

Rh positive

presence of antigens

Rh negative

absence of antigens

hemochromatosis

hereditary disorder with an excessive buildup of iron deposits in the body

hemophilia

a group of hereditary bleeding disorders caused by a defect in clotting factors necessary for the coagulation of blood

leukemia

chronic or acute malignant (cancerous) disease of the blood-forming organs, characterized by abnormal leukocytes in the blood and bone marrow

myelodysplasia

disorder within the bone marrow characterized by a proliferation of abnormal stem cells (cells that give rise to different types of blood cells); usually develops into a specific type of leukemia

lymphoma

any neoplastic disorder of lymph tissue, usually malignant, as in Hodgkin disease

metastasis

process by which cancer cells are spread by blood or lymph circulation to a distant organ; the plural form, metastases, indicates spreading to two or more distant sites

mononucleosis

condition caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and characterized by an increase in mononuclear cells (monocytes and lymphocytes) in the blood along with enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), fatigue, and sore throat (pharyngitis)

polycythemia

increased number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in the blood

septicemia

systemic disease caused by infection with microorganisms or their toxins in circulating blood

phlebotomy / venipuncture

incision into or puncture of a vein to withdraw blood for testing