Chapter 6. The Blood System (Full)

Blood Combining Forms

Hem/o, Hemat/o

Blood Primary Functions

Brings oxygen and nutrients to the cells and carries away waste

Plasma Combining Forms

Plasma, Plasm/o

Plasma Primary Functions

Contains nutrients, hormones, waste products, and clotting proteins

Erythrocytes Combining Form

Erythr/o

Erythrocytes Primary Functions

Transports oxygen to the tissues

Leukocyte Combining Form

Leuk/o

Leukocyte Primary Functions

Support the immune system

Platelets Combining Form

Thromb/o

Platelets Primary Functions

Play an important role in the clotting of blood

chromat/o

color

coagul/o

clotting, coagulation

-emia

blood, blood condition

erthr/o

red

fibrin/o

fibrin, fibers, threads of a clot

-globin

protein

hem/o, hemat/o

blood

leuk/o

white

myel/o

spinal cord, bone marrow

-oid

resembling

-penia

deficiency

phleb/o

vein

plasma, plasm/o

something molded or formed, plasma

-poiesis

to make

-stasis

maintenance of a constant level

Allogeneic Transfusion

Uses donated blood that must be of a compatible blood type

Anticoagulant

Slows coagulation and prevents new clots from forming

Antigen

Any substance that the body regards as being foreign, thus sometimes triggering an adverse reaction

Aplastic Anemia

A rare but serious condition characterized by an absence of all formed blood elements caused by the failure of blood cell production in the bone marrow

Autologous Transfusion

Uses patient's own blood instead of blood from a donor

Basophils

Least common type of WBC, formed in the red bone marrow; produce histamines

Coagulation

The process of blood clotting, or the formation of a blood clot

Coagulopathy / Bleeding Disorder

Occurs when the blood's ability to coagulate is impaired

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) / Chem 14

A broad screening tool used to provide information about the state of the body's metabolism by measuring 14 different substances in the blood

Decompression Sickness (DCS) / The Bends

A potentially fatal condition that can occur as a result of deep-sea diving or unpressurized air travel

Direct Antiglobin Test (DAT) / Direct Coombs Test

Investigates possible hemolytic transfusion reaction or whether a fetus or newborn has a hemolytic disease

Eosinophils

Formed in the red bone marrow and then migrates to tissues throughout the body

Erthyrocyte

Red Blood Cells

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Hormone produced in the kidneys that promotes the production of erythrocytes in the bone marrow

Fibrin

Aids in blood clotting and the formation of a scab to help the wound heal

Fibrinogen and Prothrombin

Clotting proteins in plasma

Globulins

A group of proteins in the blood that play an important role in the immune system

Granulocytes

Neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils; contain small granules containing protein

Hematologist

A physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating abnormalities, diseases, and disorders of blood and blood-forming tissues

Hematopoiesis

Formation of blood cells

Hematocrit (HCT)

Percentage of the blood that is made of red blood cells

Hemaglobin

A blood pigment protein of the red blood cells

Hemolysis

The process of breaking down red blood cells

Hemolytic Anemia

Characterized by an inadequate number of circulating red blood cells due to premature destruction of red blood cells by spleen

Hemophilia

A hereditary bleeding disorder, in which blood clotting factor is missing, resulting in abnormal coagulation

Hemostasis

To stop or control bleeding

Hemmorage

bleeding, especially severe bleeding

Heparin

Common coagulant

Hereditary Spherocytosis

A genetic disorder that causes red blood cells to be spherical rather than flat

Immunoglobulins

Help the body attack and kill germs

Leukemia

A type of cancer characterized by a progressive increase in the number of abnormal leukocytes found in blood-forming tissues, other organs, and circulating blood

Leukocytes

White blood cells

Leukopenia

A decrease in the number of disease-fighting white blood cells in the blood

Lipoprotein Panel Blood Test / Lipid Panel

Requires that a patient fast for 8-12 hours before blood is drawn

Lymphocytes

Identify foreign substances and germs (bacteria or viruses) in the body and produce antibodies that specifically target them

Megakaryocytes

The large cells in the bone marrow that produce platelets

Monocytes

Largest type of white blood cells, formed in red bone marrow, liver, and spleen

Multiple Myeloma (MM) / Myeloma

Second most common type of blood cancer

Neutropenia

The presence of abnormally few neutrophils in the blood, usually as a result of cancer treatment

Neutrophils

Most common type of white blood cell found in bone marrow

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)

All lymphomas other than Hodgkin's Lymphoma; more common type

Pancytopenia

A condition that is characterized by lower-than-normal quantities of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets

Pernicious Anemia

Causes by a lack of the protein intrinsic factor (IF) that helps the body absorb B-12 from the gastrointestinal tract

Phagocytes

Cells that engulf pathogens and consume them

Phlebomist

A medical professional trained to draw blood from patient's for lab tests and other procedures

Plasma

92% H2O and 8% proteins

Plasmapheresis

The removal of blood plasma by drawing blood and then separating the blood into its cellular elements

Platelets

Smallest formed element in the blood; involved in blood clotting

Prothrombin Time (PT) / Pro Time

Blood coagulation test used to diagnose conditions associated with abnormalities of clotting time and to monitor anticoagulant therapy

Reticulocytes

Red blood cells that have been just released from bone marrow

Rh Factor

Defines the presence of the Rh antigen on red blood cells

Sepsis

A potentially life-threatening infections that results from bacteria or other infectious organisms entering the bloodstream

Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA)

Most common form of a group of blood disorders known as sickle cell disease

Thalassemia

An inherited blood disorder that causes mild or severe anemia due to reduced hemoglobin

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE)

Type of plasmapheresis in which some of the patient's own blood is circulated through a device that remove the disease-carrying antibodies in the plasma and replaces it with healthy donor plasma and/or a plasma substitute

Thrombocytes

Platelets

Thrombocytopenia

A condition where there is an abnormally small number of platelets circulating in the blood

Transfusion Reaction

A serious and potentially fatal complication of a blood transfusion in which a severe immune response occurs because the patient's blood and the donated blood do not match

Von Willebrand Disease (VWD)

The most common genetic bleeding disorder, impacts women more than men

Hematologic System

Blood and bone marrow

Albumin

Main protein in blood and helps prevent fluid leakage

Formed Elements

The formed elements make up about 45% of human blood and consist of three main components: red blood cells (erythrocytes) for O₂ transport, white blood cells (leukocytes) for immunity, and platelets (thrombocytes) for clotting

Blood

Fluid tissue in the body; 55% liquid plasma and 45% formed elements

Phagocytosis

The act of "eating" or engulfing substances in which phagocytes undergo

Plasma Cells

Make immunoglobulins

Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Hemocytoblasts

Foundational stem cells residing in the red bone marrow

Differentiation

The process by which unspecialized cells mature into specialized cells with specific structures and functions

Thymus

A specialized, pyramid-shaped organ of the immune system located in the upper chest, just behind the breastbone whose primary function is to process and mature white blood cells called T-lymphocytes (T cells), which protect the body from infections and diseases

Thymocytes

T cells migrated into the thymus

Blood Types

Presence or absence of certain antigens

A Blood type

Contains A antigens and anti-B antibodies

B Blood Type

Contains B antigens and anti-A antibodies

O Blood Type

Contains no antigens and both anti-A and anti-B antibodies

Rh Positive

Rh+; 85% of Americans

Rh Negative

Rh-; 15% of Americans