| Term | Definition |
|---|
| hemolysis | process of breaking down or dissolving blood |
| albumin | major protein molecule in the blood; produced by the liver; liver disease causes levels to be low |
| anisocytosis | erythrocytes that are either too large or too small; pt's RBCs are of unequal size |
| anticoagulant | prevents blood clot from forming by inhibiting clotting factors |
| differentiation | when cells divide & migrate to various parts of the body & change into specialized cells that produce specific tissue |
| eosinophil | least common leukocyte (WBC) in the blood, granulocytes, granules in their cytoplasm are large & stain bright pink to red with the red, acidic due eosin; responsible for combating infection and parasites |
| erythropoiesis | formation of red blood cells |
| fibrin | fiber substance that are produced by clotting factors in the plasma to trap erythrocytes & form a blood clot |
| gamma globulins | protein molecule that makes up immunoglobulins in the blood |
| hemoglobin | a red, iron-containing molecule in erythrocytes; carry oxygen from lungs to every cell in the body |
| leukapheresis | separation of white blood cells from a sample of blood |
| macrophage | a.k.a monocytes (engulf large numbers of cells & cellular debris) |
| megakaryocyte | a very large cell with a great deal of cytoplasm & a large nucleus with several lobes |
| myeloblast | immature cell (stem cell) that develops in the bone marrow |
| neutropenia | a hematological disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of a specific type of white blood cell (type of cell is in the name) |
| plateletpheresis | the process of collecting platelets, the components of blood that are involved in hemostasis (blood clotting) |
| poikilocytosis | erythrocytes that vary in shape |
| serum | the fluid portion of plasma that remains after clotting factors in the plasma are activated to form a blood clot |
| sideropenia | An abnormally low level of iron in the blood serum |
| thrombosis | formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel |
| acute lymphocytic leukemia | cancer of the leukocytes in which there are too many lymphoblasts |
| apheresis | medical procedure in which a unit of whole blood is collected from a donor |
| bone marrow biopsy | the removal of soft tissue from inside bone for examination |
| chronic myelogenous leukemia | cancer of the leukocytes in which there are too many myeloblasts, myelocytes & mature neutrophils eosinophils & basophils |
| coagulation time | The time required for blood to clot |
| dyscrasia | disease caused by an abnormal mixing of the four "humors" (blood, black-bile, yellow-bile & phlegm); defined in current medicine as a morbid general state resulting from the presence of abnormal material in the blood, usually applied to diseases affecting blood cells or platelets |
| erythrocyte sedimentation rate | the rate at which red blood cells precipitate in a period of 1 hour |
| hematocrit | percentage of RBCs |
| hemoglobin test | a test that involves Hgb: the amount (grams) per deciliter (g/dL) usually ordered to measure the severity of anemia or polycythemia |
| hemophilia | inherited genetic abnormality of a gene on the X chromosome that causes a lack or a deficiency of a specific clotting factor; when injured they continue to bleed for a long period of time |
| multiple myeloma | cancer of the plasma cells that produce antibodies |
| palliative | alleviates the patients suffering as much as possible but cannot cure the underlying terminal illness |
| pernicious anemia | decreased number of erythrocytes in the blood caused by a lack of vitamin B12 in the diet or a lack of intrinsic factor in the stomach; "destructive" anemia |
| polycythemia vera | increased number of erythrocytes due to uncontrolled production by the red marrow |
| purpura | hemorrhages or bruises on the skin; "purple" |
| red blood cell morphology | disease category that includes erythrocytes that have abnormality of size or shape |
| relapse | return of symptoms or signs of cancer after a period of improvement or even remission |
| remission | period of time during which there are no symptoms or signs of cancer |
| thalassemia | inherited genetic abnormality that affects the synthesis of globin chains in the hemoglobin molecule; results in formation of abnormal hemoglobin molecules, thus causing anemia |
| white blood cell differential | percentage of each type of WBC per 100 WBCs |
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