Chapter 8 - Medical Terminology

The Blood and Lymphatic Systems

thromb/o

clot

hem/o, hemat/o

blood

cyt/o

cell

leuk/o

white

phleb/o, ven/o

vein

lymph/o

lymph

myel/o

bone marrow, spine

-emia

blood condition

tonsill/o

tonsils

splen/o

spleen

thym/o

thymus

-penia

deficiency

anemia

reduction of red blood cells noticed by the patient as weakness and fatigue

ecchymosis

large bruise

hematoma

mass of blood within an organ, cavity, or tissue

hemophilia

condition in which the blood doesnt clot, thus causing excessive bleeding

hemorrhage

excessive blood loss

petechia

small bruise

lymphadenopathy

any disease of a lymph gland (node); used to refer to noticeably swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck

lymphedema

swelling caused by abnormal accumulation of lymph, usually in the extremities

splenalgia

pain in the spleen

splenodynia

pain in the spleen

embolism

blockage in a blood vessel caused by an embolus

embolus

mass of matter present in the blood

erythrocyte

red blood cell

hematopoiesis

formation of blood cells

hemolysis

breakdown of blood cells

leukocyte

white blood cell

leukopenia

deficiency in white blood cells

thrombocyte

cell that helps blood clot; also known as a platelet

thromboembolism

blockage of a vessel (embolism) caused by a clot that has broken off from where it formed

thrombosis

formation of a blood clot

thrombus

blood clot

hepatosplenomegaly

enlargement of the liver and spleen

lymphocyte

lymph cell

splenomegaly

enlargement of the spleen

hematocrit

test to judge or separate the blood; it is used to determine the ratio of rbc’s to total blood volume

hematology

the study of blood

phlebotomist

specialist in drawing blood

phlebotomy

incision into a vein; another name for drawing blood

sphygmomanometer

fancy name for the device used to measure blood pressure

lymphangiography

procedure to study the lymph vessels

immunocompromised

having an immune system incapable of responding normally and completely to a pathogen or disease

immunodeficiency

having an immune system with decreased or compromised response to disease-causing organisms

immunosuppression

reduction in the activity of the body’s immune system

thrombophlebitis

inflammation of vein caused by a clot

anemia

reduced rbc

aplastic anemia

anemia caused by rbcs not being formed in sufficient quantities

hemolytic anemia

anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells

hyperlipidemia

excessive fat in the blood

iron deficiency anemia

anemia caused by inadequate iron intake

septicemia

presence of disease-causing microorganisms in the blood

lymphadenitis

inflammation of a lymph gland (node)

lymphangitis

inflammation of lymph vessels

mononucleosis

condition characterized by an abnormally large number of mononuclear leukocytes

splenitis

inflammation of the spleen

splenorrhexis

rupture of the spleen

tonsillitis

inflammation of a tonsil

leukemia

cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by the abnormal increase in wbc

lymphoma

cancerous tumor originating in lymphocytes

myeloma

cancerous tumor of the bone marrow; when the tumors are present in several bones, it is called multiple myeloma

anticoagulant

drug that prevents the coagulation of blood

thrombolytic

drug that breaks down blood clots

lymphadenectomy

surgical removal of a lymph gland (node)

splenectomy

surgical removal of the spleen

thymectomy

surgical removal of the thymus

tonsillectomy

surgical removal of a tonsil

apheresis

general perm for a process, similar to dialysis, that draws out a patient’s blood, removes something from it, then returns the rest of the blood to the patient’s body

cytapheresis

apheresis to remove cellular material

plasmapheresis

apheresis to remove plasma

plateletpheresis

apheresis to remove platelets (for the purpose of donating them to patients in need of platelets)

transfusion

infusion into a patient of blood from another source