28 GLOSSARY

anemia

decreased red blood cell (RBC) count

band cell

slightly immature neutrophil

blast cell

primitive white blood cell (WBC)

cytokines

proteins produced by leukocytes that are vital to regulation of hematopoiesis, apoptosis, and immune responses

differentiation

development of functions and characteristics that are different from those of the parent stem cell

erythrocyte

a cellular component of blood involved in the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide

erythropoiesis

process of the formation of RBCs

erythropoietin

hormone produced primarily by the kidney; necessary for erythropoiesis

fibrin

filamentous protein; basis of thrombus and blood clot

fibrinogen

protein converted into fibrin to form thrombus and clot

fibrinolysis

process of breakdown of fibrin clot

granulocyte

granulated WBC (i.e., neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil)

hematocrit

percentage of total blood volume consisting of RBCs

hematopoiesis

complex process of the formation and maturation of blood cells

hemoglobin

iron-containing protein of RBCs; delivers oxygen to tissues

hemostasis

intricate balance between clot formation and clot dissolution

leukocyte

one of several cellular components of blood involved in defense of the body; subtypes include neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes (synonym: white blood cell [WBC])

leukopenia

less-than-normal amount of WBCs in circulation

lymphocyte

form of WBC involved in immune functions

lymphoid

pertaining to lymphocytes

macrophage

reticuloendothelial cells capable of phagocytosis

monocyte

large WBC that becomes a macrophage when it leaves the circulation and moves into body tissues

myeloid

pertaining to nonlymphoid blood cells that differentiate into RBCs, platelets, macrophages, mast cells, and various WBCs

myelopoiesis

formation and maturation of cells derived from myeloid stem cell

natural killer (NK) cells

lymphocytes that defend against microorganisms and malignant cells

neutrophil

fully mature WBC capable of phagocytosis; primary defense against bacterial infection

oxyhemoglobin

combined form of oxygen and hemoglobin; primarily found in arterial blood

phagocytosis

process of cellular ingestion and digestion of foreign bodies

plasma

liquid portion of blood

plasminogen

protein converted to plasmin to dissolve thrombi and clots

platelet (thrombocyte)

a cellular component of blood involved in blood coagulation

red blood cell (RBC)

a cellular component of blood involved in the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide

reticulocytes

slightly immature RBCs, usually only 1% of total circulating RBCs

reticuloendothelial system

complex system of cells throughout the body capable of phagocytosis

serum

portion of blood remaining after coagulation occurs

stem cell

primitive cell, capable of self-replication and differentiation into myeloid or lymphoid __________

stroma

component of the bone marrow not directly related to hematopoiesis but serves important supportive roles in this process

thrombocyte

a cellular component of blood involved in blood coagulation

white blood cell (WBC)

one of several cellular components of blood involved in defense of the body; subtypes include neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes