The Circulatory System: Blood

Flashcards of key vocabulary terms related to the circulatory system and blood.

What is the circulatory system?

The circulatory system consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

What is the cardiovascular system?

The cardiovascular system refers only to the heart and blood vessels.

What is plasma?

Plasma is the matrix of blood, a clear light yellow fluid.

What are formed elements?

Formed elements are blood cells and cell fragments, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

What are erythrocytes?

Erythrocytes are red blood cells (RBCs).

What are platelets?

Platelets are fragments of certain bone marrow cells.

What are leukocytes?

Leukocytes are white blood cells (WBCs).

What are neutrophils?

Neutrophils are a type of WBC classified as a granulocyte.

What are eosinophils?

Eosinophils are a type of WBC classified as a granulocyte.

What are basophils?

Basophils are a type of WBC classified as a granulocyte.

What are lymphocytes?

Lymphocytes are a type of WBC classified as an agranulocyte.

What are monocytes?

Monocytes are a type of WBC classified as an agranulocyte.

What is hematocrit?

Hematocrit is the packed cell volume, or the percentage of whole blood volume composed of RBCs.

What is serum?

Serum is the remaining fluid when blood clots and solids are removed.

What is fibrinogen?

Fibrinogen is the precursor of fibrin threads that help form blood clots.

What is viscosity?

Viscosity is the resistance of a fluid to flow.

What is hypoproteinemia?

Hypoproteinemia is a deficiency of plasma proteins.

What is Kwashiorkor?

Kwashiorkor is a condition in children with severe protein deficiency.

What is hematopoiesis?

Hematopoiesis is the production of blood, especially its formed elements.

What is hypoxemia?

Hypoxemia is low O_2, which increases erythropoiesis through negative feedback control.

What is hemolysis?

Hemolysis is when RBCs rupture in narrow channels of the spleen and liver.

What is polycythemia?

Polycythemia is an excess of RBCs.

What is anemia?

Anemia's causes fall into three categories: Hemorrhagic anemias from bleeding, Hemolytic anemias from RBC destruction, Inadequate erythropoiesis or hemoglobin synthesis.

What are agglutinogens?

Agglutinogens are antigens on the surface of RBCs that are the basis for blood typing.

What is agglutination?

Agglutination is the clumping of red blood cells.

What are agglutinins?

Agglutinins are antibodies in plasma that cause transfusion mismatch.

What is hemostasis?

Hemostasis is the cessation of bleeding.

What is leukopenia?

Leukopenia is a low WBC count: below 5,000 WBCs/μL.

What is leukocytosis?

Leukocytosis is a high WBC count: above 10,000 WBCs/μL.

What is thrombopoiesis?

Thrombopoiesis is platelet production.

What is hemophilia?

Hemophilia is a family of hereditary diseases characterized by deficiencies of one clotting factor or another.

What is thrombosis?

Thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a clot (thrombus) in unbroken vessel.

What is an embolus?

An embolus is anything that can travel in the blood and block blood vessels.