Blood Diseases and Conditions: Key Terms and Definitions

dyscrasia

A nonspecific term that refers to a disease or disorder, especially of the blood.

-ia

condition

dys-

difficult; abnormal

cras/o

mixture; temperament

hemorrhage

A heavy discharge of blood from the blood vessels.

-rrhage

bleeding

hem/o

blood

pancytopenia

Low levels of all three blood cell types: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

-penia

deficiency; lack of

pan-

all; everywhere

cyt/o

cell

septicemia

A serious bloodstream infection.

-emia

blood condition

seps/o

infection

anisocytosis

Variation (unequal) size of cells and especially of the red blood cells.

-osis

condition; usually abnormal

anis/o

unequal

anemia

A condition characterized by a decrease in the number of red blood cells or a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood.

hemolytic

Pertaining to the destruction of red blood cells.

-lytic

pertaining to break down, destruction; dissolving

hypochromic

Abnormally pale red blood cells? Comes from red blood cells with deficient hemoglobin.

-ic

pertaining to

hypo-

under, deficient

chrom/o

color

macrocytic

Pertaining to an exceptionally large red blood cell occurring chiefly in anemias.

microcytic

Pertaining to small than normal blood cells.

poikilocytosis

An abnormally shaped red blood cell.

polycythemia vera

A rare disease in which the body makes too many blood cells.

poly-

many, excessive