Blood and Hemostasis

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to blood, hemostasis, and related physiological processes.

Homeostasis

The state of stable internal conditions in the body.

Erythropoiesis

The process of producing red blood cells (RBCs).

Erythropoietin

A hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Colony Stimulating Factors (CSFs)

Hormones that stimulate the bone marrow to produce white blood cells.

Thrombopoietin

A hormone produced by the liver that accelerates the production of platelets.

Hemostasis

The process of stopping bleeding or blood loss.

Vascular Spasms

Contraction of blood vessel walls that reduces blood loss after vascular injury.

Platelet Plug

A mass formed by the aggregation of platelets at the site of blood vessel injury.

Coagulation

The process in which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a blood clot.

Thrombus

A blood clot that forms in a blood vessel and remains there.

Embolus

A thrombus that breaks free and travels through the bloodstream.

Thrombocytopenia

A deficiency in the number of platelets in the blood.

Hemophilia

A hereditary disorder where blood does not clot properly due to the absence of clotting factors.

Blood Typing

The testing of blood for specific antigens to determine blood group compatibility.

Agglutination

Clumping of red blood cells in response to an antibody.

ABO Blood Groups

Classification of blood based on the presence or absence of antigens A and B on red blood cells.

Rh Factor

An antigen present on red blood cells that determines a positive or negative blood type.

Physiologic Jaundice

A common form of jaundice in newborn infants caused by rapid breakdown of fetal red blood cells.

Fibrin

A protein that forms a fibrous mesh to stabilize blood clots.

Leukemia

A type of cancer that affects blood and bone marrow, characterized by an increased number of immature white blood cells.