albumin
protein found in blood
anisocytosis
inequality in the size of red blood cells
antibody
protein made by white blood cells in response to foreign substances (antigens) in the blood
anticoagulant
substance that prevents blood clotting
antigen
foreign agent that stimulates the production of an antibody
basophil
white blood cell (leukocyte) containing dark granules that stain with a basic dye
bilirubin
orange-yellow pigment found in bile; it is released from the breakdown of hemoglobin when red blood cells die
coagulation
process of blood clotting
coagulopathy
disease of blood clotting
colony-stimulating factor
protein that stimulates the growth and proliferation of white blood cells (granulocytes)
cytology
study of cells
differentiation
specialization of cells from immature to mature forms
electrophoresis
technique used to separate serum proteins by electrical charge
eosinophil
white blood cell whose granules stain intensely with an acidic eosin (reddish) dye; elevated in allergic reactions
eosinophilia
increase in numbers of eosinophils in the bloodstream
erythroblast
immature, developing red blood cell
erythrocyte
red blood cell
erythropoiesis
formation of red blood cells
erythropoietin
substance (hormone) produced by the kidney to stimulate bone marrow to produce erythrocytes
fibrin
protein threads that form the basis of a blood clot
fibrinogen
plasma protein that is converted to fibrin in the clotting process
globulin
major blood protein; immunoglobulin
granulocyte
white blood cell with numerous dark-staining granules; neutrophil, eosinophil, and basophil
granulocytopenia
deficiency of granulocytes
hematopoiesis
formation of blood cells
hematopoietic stem cell
cell in the bone marrow that gives rise to different types of blood cells
hemoglobin
blood protein containing iron; carries oxygen in red blood cells
hemoglobinopathy
disease or defect of hemoglobin production; sickle cell anemia is an example
hemolysis
destruction or breakdown of blood; specifically red blood cells
hemostasis
stoppage of bleeding or circulation of blood
heparin
anticoagulant found in blood and tissues
hypochromic
pertaining to deficiency in color; decrease in hemoglobin in red blood cells
immune reaction
response of the immune system to foreign invasion
immunoglobulin
antibody-containing protein in the blood; IgA, IgG, IgM
leukapheresis
mechanical separation of white blood cells from the rest of the blood
leukocyte
white blood cells
leukopenia
deficiency of white blood cells
lymphocyte
white blood cell with a single nucleus (mononuclear); capable of producing antibodies
Macrocytosis
presence of large red blood cells in the blood
macrophage
large phagocytic cell migrating from the blood into tissues
megakaryocyte
large, giant cell with a big nucleus; platelet precursor found in the bone marrow
microcytosis
increased numbers of smaller than normal blood cells
monoblast
immature monocyte
monocyte
white blood cell (agranulocyte) with one large nucleus; enter tissues as macrophages
mononuclear
pertaining to a white blood cell with a single, round nucleus; monocyte or lymphocyte
morphology
study of the shape and form of cells, particularly red blood cells
myeloblast
immature granulocytic white blood cell; a cell normally only found in the bone marrow
myelodysplasia
preleukemic condition
myeloid
derived from bone marrow
myelopoiesis
formation and development of bone marrow or cells that originate from it
neutropenia
deficiency of neutrophils
neutrophil
white blood cell with dark granules that stain with a neutral dye; phagocyte formed in the bone marrow and the body's first line of defense against disease
neutrophilia
increased numbers of neutrophils
pancytopenia
deficiency of all (blood) cells
phagocyte
cell that engulfs another cells or foreign organism and destroys it
plasma
liquid portion of blood containing proteins, water, salts, nutrients, hormones, and vitamins
plasmapheresis
removal of plasma from withdrawn blood by centrifuge
platelet
clotting cell or thrombocyte
plateletpheresis
separation of platelets from the rest of the blood
poikilocytosis
variation in the shape of red blood cells
polymorphonuclear
pertaining to a mult-lobed nucleus (in granulocytic white blood cells)
prothrombin
plasma protein converted to thrombin in the clotting process
reticulocyte
immature erythrocyte with a network of strands (reticulum)
Rh factor
antigen (protein) on red blood cells of Rh positive individuals
serum
plasma minus clotting proteins (prothrombin and fibrinogen) and clotting cells
sideropenia
deficiency of iron in the blood
spherocytosis
increase in numbers of sphere-shaped red blood cells, as in a type of anemia (hemolytic anemia)
stem cell
unspecialized cell that gives rise to mature, specialized forms
thrombin
enzyme necessary for blood clotting (converts fibinogen to fibrin in the clotting process)
thrombocyte
platelet; clotting cell
thrombocytopenia
deficiency of clotting cells
thrombolytic therapy
treatment with drugs to break down clots that may abnormally form in blood vessels
thrombosis
condition of clot formation