Allied Health Study Guide: WBCs, Hemostasis, and Cardiovascular Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing white blood cells, infections, hemostasis, cardiovascular medications, dysrhythmias, and intravenous devices based on Allied Health lecture notes.

Neutrophils

White blood cells that phagocytize (engulf) smaller particles and are active in fighting infections.

Monocytes

White blood cells that phagocytize larger particles; they may die due to accumulated toxins and digestive products.

Basophils

White blood cells that release histamine during an invasion, promoting inflammation.

Pus

An accumulation of bacteria, leukocytes (WBCs), and damaged cells at an infection site.

Normal WBC count

A white blood cell count of $5{,}000\text{--}10{,}000\text{ cells/mm}^3$, according to the lecture notes.

Leukocytosis

An increased WBC count above $10{,}000\text{ cells/mm}^3$, associated with acute infection.

Leukopenia

A decreased WBC count below $5{,}000\text{ cells/mm}^3$, which may occur with infections such as influenza, measles, chickenpox, AIDS, and poliomyelitis.

Differential WBC count

A laboratory test that measures the distribution of different types of white blood cells to help identify specific medical problems.

Chickenpox (varicella)

A viral infection that causes a blister-like rash and has an incubation period of $10\text{--}14\text{ days}$.

Shingles (herpes zoster)

A condition caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus that produces painful blisters, typically in a band or strip.

Cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction

A skin reaction caused by an exaggerated immune response to a substance, such as an allergen or medication.

Normal platelet count

Listed in the notes as $130{,}000\text{--}360{,}000\text{/mm}^3$ (with $150{,}000\text{--}400{,}000\text{/mm}^3$ noted as a common clinical reference range).

Serotonin (platelet function)

A substance released by platelets that contributes to vasoconstriction during hemostasis.

Platelet lifespan

The average survival duration of circulating platelets, listed in the notes as approximately $7\text{--}10\text{ days}$.

Vascular spasm

The first step of hemostasis, in which an injured blood vessel constricts to reduce blood loss.

Platelet plug formation

The second step of hemostasis, where platelets adhere to the damaged vessel area and aggregate to create a temporary seal.

Coagulation

The third step of hemostasis, in which clotting factors convert fibrinogen into fibrin threads that stabilize the blood clot.

Fibrinogen

A soluble plasma protein that is converted into insoluble fibrin during coagulation.

Fibrin

Insoluble protein threads that stabilize and complete a blood clot.

Heparin

An anticoagulant medication; the notes specifically highlight low-molecular-weight heparin.

Lovenox (enoxaparin)

A low-molecular-weight heparin administered by subcutaneous injection, commonly into the abdomen.

Coumadin (warfarin)

An oral anticoagulant medication that requires ongoing monitoring via PT/INR blood testing.

Prothrombin Time (PT)

A clotting test measuring how long blood takes to clot, listed in the notes at approximately $12.6\text{ seconds}$.

International Normalized Ratio (INR)

A standardized calculation based on PT used to monitor warfarin therapy, with a described therapeutic range of $2.5\text{--}3$.

Hemophilia

A bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of a clotting factor; hemophilia A specifically involves a deficiency in factor VIII.

Thrombus

A blood clot that forms and remains within a blood vessel or the heart.

Embolus

A moving mass or clot fragment that travels through the bloodstream and can occlude distant vessels.

Mural thrombosis

A blood clot that forms directly along the inner wall of a heart chamber or large blood vessel.

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

An ultrasound test performed via the esophagus to visualize the heart, used to evaluate for atrial clots prior to certain procedures.

Vena cava filter

A vascular device positioned inside the inferior vena cava to intercept traveling blood clots before they reach the lungs.

Bruit

An abnormal whooshing sound auscultated over an artery using a stethoscope, indicating turbulent blood flow.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)

A severe hematologic disorder characterized by microvascular thrombi and low platelet counts.

Keloid

A thickened scar formation that extends beyond the boundaries of the original wound.

Tachycardia

An abnormally rapid heart rate.

Dysrhythmia (arrhythmia)

Any disturbance or abnormality in the normal electrical rhythm of the heart.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib)

Disorganized, irregular electrical activation occurring within the atria.

Atrial flutter

A rapid, organized electrical rhythm originating within the atria.

Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach)

A rapid cardiac dysrhythmia originating directly within the ventricles.

Ventricular fibrillation (V-fib)

Chaotic electrical activity in the ventricles that prevents effective mechanical pumping.

Premature ventricular contraction (PVC)

An ectopic, early cardiac beat originating within the ventricles.

P wave

The ECG deflection representing atrial depolarization.

QRS complex

The ECG waveform representing ventricular depolarization.

T wave

The ECG deflection representing ventricular repolarization.

Torsades de pointes

A distinct form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia displaying a characteristic twisting pattern across the isoelectric line on an ECG.

Holter monitor

A portable ECG device that continuously records cardiac electrical activity over an extended duration, commonly $24\text{ hours}$ or longer.

First-degree heart block

An atrioventricular conduction impairment where electrical transmission from atria to ventricles is consistently delayed.

Second-degree heart block

A conduction disturbance where some atrial impulses fail to conduct through to the ventricles.

Third-degree heart block

A complete AV conduction block wherein the atria and ventricles beat completely independently of one another.

Cardioversion

Delivery of an electrical shock synchronized to the QRS complex to terminate selected tachydysrhythmias, such as AFib.

Defibrillation

Delivery of an unsynchronized shock to terminate shockable cardiac arrest rhythms, specifically V-fib and pulseless V-tach.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)

An internal device capable of detecting life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias and automatically delivering corrective therapy or shocks.

Automated external defibrillator (AED)

A portable device that evaluates heart rhythms and advises or administers an unsynchronized electrical shock for shockable cardiac arrest rhythms.

Beta blockers

Medications that lower heart rate, oxygen demand, and myocardial workload, often prescribed following a myocardial infarction (MI).

Digoxin

A cardiac glycoside derived from the digitalis plant that enhances myocardial contractility (positive inotropy) and slows AV node conduction.

Statins

Cholesterol-lowering agents that warrant periodic liver function testing due to their potential impact on liver enzymes.

Adenosine

An antiarrhythmic agent that transiently slows conduction through the AV node to convert specific supraventricular tachycardias.

Ejection fraction (EF)

The volumetric percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle during each systole, typically ranging from $50\text{--}70\%$.

Ablation

An electrophysiology-guided procedure that delivers targeted energy to eradicate aberrant electrical pathways responsible for arrhythmias.

Central line

An intravenous catheter whose distal tip terminates directly inside a large central vein.

Triple-lumen catheter

A vascular catheter configured with three separate internal channels permitting simultaneous delivery of compatible infusions.