albumin
protein in blood that maintains the proper amount of water in the blood
anisocytosis
abnormality where blood cells are of unequal size
antibody
specific protein produced by lymphocytes in response to bacteria, viruses, or other antigens
anticoagulant
drug that works to prevent blood clotting
antigen
substance that stimulates the production of an antibody
basophil
white blood cell containing granules that stain blue; associated with histamine and heparin
bilirubin
orange-yellow pigment in bile formed by the breakdown of hemoglobin when red blood cells are destroyed
coagulation
blood clotting
coagulopathy
condition in which the blood's ability to clot is impaired
colony-stimulating factor
protein that stimulates growth of white blood cells
cytology
branch of biology concerned with the structure and function of plant and animal cells
differentiation
change in structure and function of a cell as it matures
electrophoresis
method of separating serum proteins by electrical charge
eosinophil
white blood cell containing granules that stain red; associated with allergic reactions
eosinophilia
increase in the number of eosinophils in the blood, occurring in response to some allergens, drugs, and parasites, and in some types of leukemia
erythroblast
immature red blood cell
erythrocyte
red blood cell
erythropoiesis
production of red blood cells
erythropoietin
hormone secreted by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell formation
fibrin
protein that forms the basis of a blood clot
fibrinogen
plasma protein that is converted to fibrin in the clotting process
globulin
plasma protein
granulocyte
white blood cell with numerous dark-staining granules; eosinophils, basophils, neutrophils
granulocytopenia
marked decrease in the number of granulocytes
hematopoiesis
formation of blood cellular components
hematopoietic stem cell
cell in bone marrow that gives rise to all types of blood cells
hemoglobin
blood protein containing iron that carries oxygen in red blood cells
hemoglobinopathy
hereditary condition involving an abnormality in the structure of hemoglobin
hemolysis
destruction or breakdown of blood
hemostasis
stopping of a flow of blood
heparin
anticoagulant found in blood and tissue cells
hypochromic
pale in color
immune reaction
response of the immune system to foreign invasion
immunoglobulin
protein with antibody activity
leukapheresis
laboratory procedure in which white blood cells are separated from a sample of blood
leukocyte
white blood cell
leukopenia
reduction in the number of white cells in the blood
lymphocyte
mononuclear leukocyte that produces antibodies
macrocytosis
enlargement of red blood cells with near-constant hemoglobin concentration
macrophage
monocyte that migrates from the blood to tissue spaces; acts as a phagocyte
megakaryocyte
large platelet precursor cell found in bone marrow
microcytosis
condition in which red blood cells are unusually small as measured by their mean corpuscular volume
monoblast
immature monocytes
monocyte
leukocyte with one large nucleus that become macrophages
mononuclear
pertaining to a cell with a single round nucleus
morphology
branch of biology dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features
myeloblast
immature bone marrow that gives rise to granulocytes
myelodysplasia
group of disorders caused when something disrupts the production of blood cells
myeloid
of or relating to bone marrow
myelopoiesis
the production of bone marrow and of all cells that arise from it
neutropenia
abnormally low count of a type of neutrophils
neutrophil
granulocytic leukocyte formed in bone marrow; phagocytic
neutrophilia
high number of neutrophil granulocytes in the blood
pancytopenia
deficiency of all three cellular components of the blood (red cells, white cells, and platelets)
phagocyte
type of cell within the body capable of engulfing and absorbing bacteria and other small cells and particles
plasma
liquid portion of the blood containing water, proteins, salts, nutrients, lipids, hormones, and vitamins
plasmapheresis
removal of plasma from withdrawn blood by centrifuge
platelet
small blood fragment that collects at sites of injury to begin the clotting process
plateletpheresis
process of collecting thrombocytes
poikilocytosis
irregularity in the shape of red blood cells
polymorphonuclear
pertaining to a white blood cell with a multi-lobed nucleus
prothrombin
plasma protein that is converted to thrombin in the clotting process
reticulocyte
immature erythrocyte
Rh factor
antigen on red blood cells of Rh-positive individuals
serum
plasma minus clotting proteins and cells
sideropenia
condition of too little iron in the body
spherocytosis
abnormality of rounded red blood cells
stem cell
unspecialized cell that gives rise to mature, specialized forms
thrombin
enzyme that converts fibrinogen during coagulation
thrombocyte
platelet
thrombocytopenia
deficiency of platelets in the blood
thrombolytic therapy
use of drugs to dissolve blood clots
thrombosis
local coagulation or clotting of the blood in a part of the circulatory system