Hematology and Respiratory Lecture Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture transcript notes covering respiratory disorders, hematologic conditions, WBC/RBC pathologies, and coagulation disorders.

Asthma

A condition where the bronchiole constricts in response to stimuli such as allergy, viral infection, or exercise.

Pneumothorax

Collapsed lungs resulting from air in the pleural cavity due to chest trauma or ruptured alveoli.

Pleural Effusion

An abnormal collection of fluid within the pleural cavity that compresses lung tissue and inhibits lung inflation, occurring when hydrostatic pressure is greater than oncotic pressure causing fluid to leak into the pleural cavity.

Chronic Bronchitis

A condition where air cannot get out of the lungs because of excess mucus production, causing cyanosis due to hypoxia which leads to clubbing of fingers.

Cor Pulmonale

Right ventricular failure caused by pulmonary disease, presenting with signs/symptoms including JVD, ascites, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and ankle/sacral edema.

Pleuritis

Inflammation of the pleural membrane.

Dyspnea

Breathing difficulty.

Hemoptysis

Blood expectorated with cough, caused by bleeding from inflamed airway mucosa.

V/Q Scan

A scan used to demonstrate the balance of ventilation and circulation within the lungs.

Atherosclerosis

Plaque build up on the artery wall that restricts blood flow, caused by hyperlipidemia and developing from endothelial injury.

Hyperlipidemia

Elevated total cholesterol in the bloodstream caused by excess fatty food or liver synthesis of cholesterol; patients present with xanthoma and xanthelasma.

Pulmonary Embolism

A clot in the pulmonary arterial circulation that causes obstruction of arterial blood flow through the lungs, with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as a precursor.

Atelectasis

A state where alveoli lack full inflation with shallow breathing, commonly occurring post-operatively.

Epiglottitis

A life-threatening condition where the airway is closed, characterized by increased pulse, restlessness, retraction, anxiety, inspiratory stridor, and drooling.

Pulmonary Edema

Accumulation of fluid around alveoli that inhibits $O_2$ transfer, occurring with an increase in hydrostatic pressure in the capillary bed of the lung, usually caused by LVF.

Surfactant

A thin film of fluid contained within the pleural space to keep membrane layers separated and lubricated.

Emphysema

Overdistention of alveoli with trapped air that causes a high residual volume of $CO_2$ in the lungs.

Cyanosis

Blue discoloration of skin and mucous membranes occurring with hypoxia when body tissue is not getting enough $O_2$.

Hyperresonance

A low, drumlike sound percussed over areas of emphysema or air in the pleural cavity.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

Overproduction of mature myeloid cells in bone marrow that do not function properly, leading to progressive loss in neutrophil differentiation and function; 95% of cases have the Philadelphia chromosome.

Cellular Immunity

An immune response that protects the body by releasing specialized T-cells to destroy infected, abnormal, or foreign cells directly without antibodies.

Apoptosis

Genetically programmed degenerative change that results in cell death.

T-cells

Immune cells that attack infected cells; produced by bone marrow and mature in the thymus gland.

B-cells

Immune cells that attack invaders outside the cell; produced in bone marrow and mature in the spleen.

Antibody Titer

Level of antibody against a pathogen within the bloodstream.

Hodgkin's Lymphoma

A malignancy of B-cells common in adolescents and young adults that presents with Reed-Sternberg cells and solid tumor in lymphoid tissue.

Reed-Sternberg Cells

Large malignant B cells with 2 nuclei that look like owl eyes.

C-reactive Protein (CRP)

A protein that marks foreign material for phagocytosis, activating the complement system and stimulating other inflammatory cytokines; elevated CRP indicates active inflammation.

Immunoglobulins

Antibodies synthesized by plasma cells that attack foreign invaders (antigens).

Multiple Myeloma

A hematological neoplasm arising in B cells, characterized by neoplastic plasma cells that proliferate within the bone marrow, leading to bone lytic lesions, bone pain, hypercalcemia, renal failure, and M-protein presence.

Leukopenia

A decrease in WBC count below $4000/\text{mcL}$, causing an increased risk of infection, decreased signs of infection, and diminished healing abilities.

Splenomegaly

Enlarged spleen caused by excessive proliferation of abnormal lymphocytes within the spleen.

Immunosuppression

A condition indicating a defective immune system that places a person at risk for infections.

Fibrinogen Test

A test that reflects clotting ability and activity; low levels may indicate decreased production or increased use of fibrinogen.

aPTT

Activated partial thromboplastin time; measures blood clotting time of the intrinsic pathway.

Platelet Aggregation Test

Evaluates a platelet's ability to adhere and form clumps; abnormal results indicate increased risk of bleeding or von Willebrand disease.

Prothrombin Time (PT)

A test that measures the clotting time of the extrinsic pathway.

Low Molecular Weight Heparin

An anticoagulant medicine used to prevent and treat blood clots that binds to plasma proteins and produces a more predictable anticoagulant response.

Thrombocytosis

Excessive platelets above $750,000/\text{uL}$ which can cause excessive clotting; can occur after splenomegaly.

Thrombocytopenia

Low platelet count below $100,000/\text{uL}$ which can cause bleeding; often a side effect of medicine, with petechiae as a potential first sign.

Thrombus

A clot formed by a collection of aggregated platelets reinforced by fibrin.

Thrombosis

Generation of an occlusive clot that obstructs blood flow in an artery or vein.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

A disorder of clot formation and bleeding in critically ill patients, characterized by active formation of fibrin microemboli in the initial phase with simultaneous depletion of coagulation factors and platelets.

Sickle Cell Anemia

A genetic disorder characterized by abnormal Hgb S that distorts the RBC shape.

Aplastic Anemia

Complete disruption of bone marrow function inhibiting the production of all blood cell lines (pancytopenia), which is life-threatening.

Hematochezia

Bright red blood in stool.

Reticulocyte Count

Indicates bone marrow activity; a high count means bone marrow is working hard to keep up with RBC loss; normally represents $1\text{\%}$ of total RBCs.

Leukocytosis

A rise in total WBC count above $11,000/\text{uL}$, commonly indicating an infection.

Erythropoiesis

The birth and synthesis of mature RBCs (erythrocytes) through a series of steps in the bone marrow.

Caseous Necrosis

A specific form of tissue death resulting in a cheese-like appearance in lung tissue, characteristic of tuberculosis.

Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

Maximal amount of air exhaled during forced expiration.

Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1)

The amount of air exhaled within the first second of forced expiration.