Haematology and Bone Marrow Physiology

These flashcards cover key terms related to haematology, bone marrow physiology, and hematopoiesis.

Haematology

The study of blood and blood disorders.

Lymphoid organs

Organs involved in the immune system, including primary and secondary lymphoid organs such as lymph nodes and the spleen.

Haematopoiesis

The formation of blood cellular components occurring during embryonic development and throughout adulthood.

Red bone marrow

A type of bone marrow that produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Yellow bone marrow

A type of bone marrow that primarily stores fat and can transform into red bone marrow during life-threatening situations.

Erythropoiesis

The process of producing red blood cells.

Leukopoiesis

The process of producing white blood cells.

Thrombopoiesis

The process of producing platelets.

Stem cells

Cells capable of self-renewal and differentiating into various specialized cells.

Self-renewal

The ability of stem cells to proliferate while maintaining an undifferentiated state.

Pluripotent stem cells

Stem cells that can give rise to all cell types of the body, not limited to specific lineages.

Multipotent stem cells

Stem cells that can differentiate into multiple cell types within a particular lineage.

Cytokines

Regulatory molecules that play vital roles in the growth, survival, and differentiation of blood progenitor cells.

Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs)

Factors that stimulate the production of committed cells in hematopoiesis.

Vascular section of bone marrow

The portion of bone marrow containing blood vessels that supply nutrients and transport blood cells.

Non-vascular section of bone marrow

The area where haematopoiesis occurs and contains immature blood cells and hematopoietic stem cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)

Stem cells that give rise to all blood cell types and maintain homeostasis in the hematopoietic system.

Endosteal niche

A specialized microenvironment within the bone marrow where hematopoietic stem cells reside.

Perivascular niche

A distinct niche in bone marrow where quiescent HSCs are located, near blood vessels.

Transcription factors

Proteins that regulate the expression of genes involved in the differentiation and function of cells.

Monoclonal antibodies

Antibodies that are identical and produced by a single clone of immune cells; used in research and therapy.

HSC niche

The microenvironment within the bone marrow that regulates the behavior of hematopoietic stem cells.