Introduction to Normal Bone Marrow and Blood Cells

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to normal bone marrow, blood cells, and their functions.

Haematology

The study of blood and the blood-forming organ (bone marrow) in health and blood-related disorders and diseases.

Haematopoiesis

The process by which blood cells are formed and developed from haematopoietic stem cells.

Erythropoiesis

The production of red blood cells (erythrocytes) from stem cells in the bone marrow.

Plasma

The liquid part of blood that contains cells and regulates body temperature.

Erythrocyte

Also known as red blood cells; carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.

Leukocytes

White blood cells that help fight infections as part of the immune response.

Thrombocytes

Platelets involved in clotting to prevent bleeding.

Colony Stimulating Factors (CSFs)

Proteins that stimulate the production of blood cells, particularly in the bone marrow.

Heme

An iron-containing compound in hemoglobin responsible for binding oxygen.

Hemoglobin Switching

The process by which there is a transition from fetal hemoglobin (HbF) to adult hemoglobin (HbA) in the body.

2,3-DPG

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate; a compound that regulates hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen.

Neutrophil

The most abundant type of white blood cell, involved in phagocytosis and response to infection.

Eosinophil

A type of white blood cell involved in combating parasitic infections and allergic reactions.

Basophil

A type of white blood cell that releases histamine during allergic reactions.

Monocyte

A type of white blood cell that can differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells; involved in phagocytosis.

Thrombocytopenia

A condition characterized by low platelet count, leading to increased bleeding risk.

Thrombosis

The formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel.

Oxygen Dissociation Curve

A graph explaining how hemoglobin's oxygen binding and release varies with oxygen pressure.

Sideroblastic Anemia

Anemia caused by the body’s inability to incorporate iron into hemoglobin.

Megaloblastic Anemia

Anemia characterized by larger-than-normal red blood cells often due to vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.

Lymphocyte

A subtype of white blood cell that plays a major role in the immune response, including B-cells and T-cells.