Biology: Blood, Blood Groups & Heart Lecture Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the hematology, immunology, and cardiovascular physiology topics from the lecture.

Angiology

The study of blood circulation and the circulatory system, including blood vessels.

Haematology

The branch of biology and medicine dedicated specifically to the study of blood.

Open Circulatory System

A circulatory system without proper blood vessels where haemolymph flows freely in the body cavity (haemocoel), bathing internal organs directly; typical of Arthropoda and Mollusca.

Closed Circulatory System

A circulatory system where blood remains confined within vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries); found in Annelida and vertebrates.

Alveoli

Tiny balloon-like air sacs that serve as the functional units of the lungs where gas exchange occurs via diffusion.

Haemocyanin

A copper-based respiratory pigment found in arthropods and molluscs that is colourless but turns bluish upon exposure to air.

Oxyhaemoglobin

A bright red compound formed by the binding of oxygen to haemoglobin in arterial blood.

Carbaminohaemoglobin

A dark blue or black compound formed by the weak binding of carbon dioxide to haemoglobin in venous blood.

Carboxyhaemoglobin

A very stable, dark compound formed when carbon monoxide binds tightly to haemoglobin, which can lead to suffocation and death.

Siderosis

An iron-overload condition caused by excess iron accumulating in the body.

Serum

Blood plasma from which clotting proteins (fibrinogen and prothrombin) have been removed.

Albumin

The most abundant plasma protein, responsible for osmoregulation and maintaining fluid and mineral balance among organs.

Erythropoiesis

The biological process of red blood cell formation, occurring in the liver and spleen in foetuses and in red bone marrow in adults.

Polycythaemia

A medical condition marked by an abnormal excess or elevated count of red blood cells in the circulation.

Megakaryocytes

Special large precursor cells in the bone marrow that fragment to produce platelets (thrombocytes).

Leucopenia

An abnormal decrease in the circulating white blood cell (leucocyte) count below normal levels.

Leucocytosis

An elevated white blood cell count, typically serving as a sign of infection or immune reaction.

Neutrophil

The most abundant type of granulocytic white blood cell ($40\text{--}65\%$ of WBCs) acting as a micro-phagocyte to destroy pathogens.

Monocyte

The largest type of agranulocytic white blood cell ($2\text{--}8\%$ of WBCs) functioning as a macro-phagocyte.

Lymphocyte

The smallest agranulocytic white blood cell ($20\text{--}40\%$ of WBCs), consisting of B and T cells responsible for producing antibodies and immune defense.

Thrombocytopenia

A medical condition characterized by a deficiency or abnormal drop in the platelet count.

Bombay Blood Group

A rare blood type (designated as $hh$) lacking standard ABO antigens, discovered in 1952 by Dr. Y. M. Bhende.

Rh-null

An extremely rare blood phenotype completely lacking all Rh antigens, also referred to as 'Golden blood'.

Erythroblastosis Fetalis

A severe haemolytic disease of the newborn occurring when an Rh-negative mother carries a second Rh-positive foetus, leading to maternal anti-Rh antibodies destroying fetal erythrocytes.

RhoGAM

An anti-D / anti-Rh IgG antibody injection given to an Rh-negative mother within 24 to 72 hours of delivering an Rh-positive baby to prevent Rh isoimmunisation.

Pericardium

The outermost protective fibrous membrane covering the human heart, containing lubricating pericardial fluid.

Pulmonary Artery

The only artery in the human body that transports deoxygenated (impure) blood, carrying it from the right ventricle to the lungs.

Pulmonary Vein

The only vein in the human body that carries oxygenated (pure) blood, conveying it from the lungs to the left atrium.

Bicuspid Valve

An atrioventricular valve consisting of two flaps (also called the mitral valve) located between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Tricuspid Valve

The three-flapped atrioventricular valve positioned between the right atrium and right ventricle.

SA Node (Sino-Atrial Node)

A cluster of specialized cardiac cells in the right atrium wall that acts as the heart's natural pacemaker by initiating electrical impulses.

Bundle of His

A pathway of specialized cardiac muscle fibres running down the interventricular septum that relays impulses from the AV node to Purkinje fibres.

Systole

The contraction phase of the cardiac cycle during which heart chambers pump blood out.

Diastole

The relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle during which heart chambers fill with blood.

Bradycardia

A cardiac condition designated by an abnormally slow resting heart rate of below $60\text{ beats per minute}$.

Tachycardia

A cardiac condition marked by an abnormally elevated resting heart rate exceeding $100\text{ beats per minute}$.

Sphygmomanometer

A diagnostic instrument using mercury to determine arterial blood pressure in $\text{mm of Hg}$.

LUB

The first heart sound, generated by the closure of the atrioventricular (bicuspid and tricuspid) valves at the onset of ventricular systole.

DUB

The second heart sound, generated by the closure of the aortic and pulmonary semilunar valves at the onset of ventricular diastole.

Ischaemia

A localized deficiency of arterial blood supply to an organ or tissue.

Epistaxis

The clinical term for acute haemorrhage from the nostril, nasal cavity, or nasopharynx (nosebleed).

Haematuria

The medical condition characterized by the abnormal presence of red blood cells in the urine.

Melaena

The passage of dark, black, tarry stools containing altered blood.

Heparin

A natural polysaccharide anticoagulant present in blood plasma, synthesized by basophils and mast cells to inhibit intravascular clotting.

Hirudin

A naturally occurring peptide anticoagulant extracted from the salivary secretions of blood-sucking leeches (Hirudinaria).

Angina Pectoris

A sharp, squeezing, or oppressive chest discomfort resulting from reduced blood flow and inadequate oxygenation of cardiac muscle.