Med Term Ch 6
Terms
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- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- a syndrome caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that renders immune cells ineffective, permitting opportunistic infections, malignancies, and neurologic diseases to develop; transmitted sexually or through contaminated blood
- active immunity
- a long-lasting immunity that results from stimulating the body to produce its own antibodies; developed either naturally, in response to an infection, or artificially, in response to the administation of a vaccine
- agranulocytes
- a group of leukocytes without granules in their nuclei
- anemia
- a condition of reduced numbers of red blood cells, hemoglobin, or packed red cells in the blood, resulting in a dimished ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen to the tissues
- aniocytosis
- presence of red blood cells of unequal size (an = not, iso = equal)
- antibody
- a substance produced by the body that destroys or inactivates an antigen that has entered the body
- anticoagulent
- a drug that prevents clotting of the blood
- antigen
- a substance that, when introduced into the body, causes the formation of antibodies against it
- aplastic anemia
- a normocytic-normochromic type of anemia characterized by the failure of bone marrow to produce red blood cells
- autoimmune disease
- any disorder characterized by abnormal function of the immune system that causes the body to produce antibodies against itself, resulting in tissue destruction or loss of function; rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are examples of autoimmune disease (auto =
- autologous blood
- blood donated by and stored for a patient for future personal use (eg. upcoming surgery)
- basic metabolic panel (BMP)
- battery of tests used as a general screen for disease; includes tests for calcium, carbon dioxide (CO2), chloride, creatinine, glucose, potassium, sodium, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
- basophil
- a granular leukocyte, named for the dark stain of its granules, that brings anticoagulant substances to inflamed tissues (baso = base; phil = attraction for)
- blast/o
- germ or bud
- blood chemistry
- test of the fluid portion of blood to measure the amounts of its chemical constituents (eg. glucose and cholesterol)
- blood chemistry panels
- specialized batteries of automated blood chemistry tests performed on a single sample of blood; used as a general screen for disease or to target specific organs or conditions (eg. metabolic panel, lipid panel, and arthritis panel)
- blood component therapy
- transfusion of a specific blood component, such as packed red blood cells, platelets, or plasma
- blood culture
- test to determine if infection is present in the bloodstream by isolating a specimen of blood in an environment that encourages the growth of microorganisms; the specimen is observed, and the organisms that grow in the culture are identified
- blood indices
- calculations of RBC, HGB, and HCT results to determine the average size, hemoglobin concentration, and content of red blood cells to classify an anemia
- blood transfusion
- introduction of blood products into the circulation of a recipient whose blood volume is reduced or deficient in some manner
- bone marrow aspiration
- needle aspiration of bone marrow tissue for pathologic examination
- bone marrow biopsy
- pathologic examination of bone marrow tissue
- bone marrow transplant
- transplantation of healthy bone marrow from a compatible donor to a diseased recipient to stimulate blood cell production
- CD4 cell count
- a measure of the number of CD4 cells (a subset of T lymphocytes) in the blood; used in monitoring the course of HIV and in timing the treatment of AIDS; the normal adult range is 600-1500 cells in a given volume of blood
- chemotherapy
- treatment of malignancies, infections, and other diseases with chemical agents to destroy selected cells or to impair their ability to reproduce
- chrom/o, chromat/o
- color
- chyl/o
- juice
- chyle
- white or pale yellow substance in lymph that contains fatty substances absorbed by the lacteals
- complete blood count (CBC)
- a common laboratory blood test performed as a screen of general health or for diagnostic purposes and typically includes the component tests that follow; test results are usually reported along with normal values so that the clinician can interpret the re
- comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
- test performed in addition to the basic panel for expanded screening; albumin, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, protein, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
- computed tomography (CT)
- full body x-ray CT images are used to detect tumors and cancers such as lymphoma
- cross-matching
- method of matching a donor's blood to the recipient by mixing a sample in a test tube to determine compatibility
- cyt/o
- cell
- differential count
- determination of the number of each type of white blood cell (leukocyte) in a stained blood smear; each type is counted and reported as a percentage of the total examined lymphocytes: 25-33%; monocytes: 3-7%; neutrophils: 54-75%; eosinophils: 1-3%; ba
- eosinophil
- a granular leukcyte, named for the rose-colored stain of its granules, that increases in allergic and some infectious reactions (eos = dawn-colored; phil = attraction for)
- erythroblastosis fetalis
- a disorder that results from the incompatibility of a fetus with Rh-positive blood and a mother with Rh-negative blood, causing red blood cell destruction in the fetus; a blood transfusion is necessary to save the fetus
- erythrocyte
- red blood cell; trasnports oxygen and carbon dioxide
- erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
- timed test that measures the rate at which red blood cells settle through a volume of plasma
- erythropenia
- an abnormally reduced number of red blood cells
- granulocytes
- a group of leukocytes containing granules in their cytoplasm
- hem/o, hemat/o
- blood
- hematocrit (HCT or Hct)
- a measurement of the percentage of packed red blood cells in a given volume of blood
- hemochromatosis
- hereditary disorder with an excessive buildup of iron deposits in the body
- hemoglobin
- the protein-iron compound in erythrocytes that transports oxygen and carbon dioxide
- hemoglobin (HGB or Hgb)
- a test to determine the blood level of hemoglobin (expressed in grams)
- hemolysis
- breakdown of the red blood cell membrane
- hemophilia
- a group of hereditary bleeding disorders caused by a defect in clotting factors necessary for the coagulation of blood
- hemostatic
- a drug that stops the flow of blood within the vessels
- homologous blood
- blood voluntarily donated by any person for tranfusion to a compatible recipient
- immun/o
- safe
- immunity
- process of disease protection induced by exposure to an antigen
- immunocompromised
- impaired immunologic defenses caused by an immunodeficiency disorder or by therapy with immunosuppressive agents
- immunosuppression
- impaired ability to provide an immune response
- immunotherapy
- use of biologic agents to prevent or treat disease by stimulating the body's own defense mechanisms, as seen in the treatment of AIDS, cancer, or allergy
- iron deficiency anemia
- a microcytic-hypochromic type of anemia characterized by a lack of iron that affects the production of hemoglobin and is characterized by small red blood cells containing low amounts of hemoglobin
- lacteals
- specialized lymph vessels in the small intestine that absorb fat into the bloodstream (lacteus = milky)
- leukemia
- chronic or acute malignant(cancerous) disease of the blood-forming organs, characterized by abnormal leukocytes in the blood and bone marrow
- leukocyte
- white blood cell; protects the body from harmful invading substances
- lymph
- fluid that is circulated through the lymph vessels
- lymph capillaries
- microscopic vessels that draw lymph from tissues to the lymph vessels
- lymph ducts
- collecting channels that carry lymph from the lumph nodes to the veins
- lymph node dissection
- removal of possible cancer-carrying lymph nodes for pathologic examination
- lymph nodes
- many small, oval structures that filter lymph from the lymph vessels; major locations include the cervical, axillary, and inguinal regions
- lymph vessels
- vessels that receive lymph from the lymph capillaries and circulate it to the lymph nodes
- lymph/o
- clear fluid
- lymphadenectomy
- removal of a lymph node
- lymphadenopathy
- enlarged (diseased) lymph nodes
- lymphadenotomy
- incision into a lymph node
- lymphangiogram
- an x-ray image of a lymph node or vessel obtained after injection of a contrast medium
- lymphocyte
- an agranulocyte leukocyte that is active in the process of immunity; the three categories of lymphocytes are T cells (thymus dependent), B cells (bone marrow derived), and natural killer (NK) cells
- lymphocytopenia
- an abnormally reduced number of lymphocytes
- lymphoma
- any neoplastic disorder of lymph tissue, usually malignant, as in Hodgkin disease
- macrocytosis
- presence of large red blood cells
- mean corpuscular (cell) hemoglobin (MCH)
- calculation of the content (weight) of hemoglobin in the average red blood cell using HGB and RBC results: MCH = HGB/RBC
- mean corpuscular (cell) hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
- calculation of the average hemoglobin concentration in each red blood cell using HGB and HCT results: MCHC = HGB/HCT
- mean corpuscular (cell) volume (MCV)
- calculation of the volume (size) of individual red blood cells using HCT and RBC results (MCV = HCT/RBC)
- metastasis
- process by which cancer cells are spread by blood or lymph circulation to a distant organ; the plural form, metastases, indicates spreading to two or more distant sites
- microcytosis
- presence of small red blood cells
- monocyte
- an agranulocyte leukocyte that performs phagocytosis to fight infection (mono = one)
- mononucleosis
- condition caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and characterized by an increase in mononuclear cells (monocytes and lymphocytes) in the blood along with enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), fatigue, and sore throat (pharyngitis)
- morph/o
- form
- myel/o
- bone marrow or spinal cord
- myelodysplasia
- disorder within the bone marrow characterized by a proliferation of abnormal stem cells (cells that give rise to different types of blood cells); usually develops into a specific type of leukemia
- neutropenia
- a decreased number of neutrophils
- neutrophil
- a granular leukocyte, named for the neutral stain of its granules, that fights infection by swallowing bacteria (phagocytosis) (neutr = neither; phil = attraction for)
- pancytopenia
- an abnormally reduced number of all cellular components in the blood
- partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
- test to determine coagulation defects, such as platelet disorders
- passive immunity
- a short-lasting immunity that results from foreign antibodies that are conveyed either naturally, through the placenta to a fetus, or artificially, by injection of a serum containing antibodies
- pernicious anemia
- a macroytic-normochromic type of anemia characterized by an inadequate supply of vitamin B12, causing red blood cells to become large, varied in shape, and reduced in number
- phag/o
- ear or swallow
- phlebotomy / venipuncture
- incision into or puncture of a vein to withdraw blood for testing
- plas/o
- formation
- plasma
- liquid portion of the blood and lymph; contains water, proteins, and cellular components (ie. leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets)
- plasmapheresis
- removal of plasma from the body with separation and extraction of specific elements (eg. platelets) followed by reinfusion (apheresis = a withdrawl)
- platelet count (PLT)
- calculation of the number of thrombocytes in the blood; the normal adult range is 150,000-450,000 platelets in a given volume of blood
- platelets
- thrombocytes; cell fragments in the blood that are essential for blood clotting (coagulation)
- poikilocytosis
- presence of large, irregularly shaped red blood cells
- polycythemia
- increased number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in the blood
- polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte
- another term for neutrophil, referring to the many segments in its neucleus (poly = many, morpho = form, nucleus = kernel)
- positron-emission tomography (PET)
- scanning technique combining nuclear medicine and computed tomography technology to produce images of anatomy and metabolic function within the body; useful in determining the recurrence of cancers or to measure response to therapy ; commonly used in eval
- prothrombin
- protein substance in the blood that is essential to the clotting process
- prothrombin time (PT)
- test to measure activity of prothrombin in the blood
- red blood count (RBC)
- a count of the number of red blood cells in a given volume of blood obtained via manuel or automated laboratory methods
- red cell morphology
- as part of identifying and counting the white blood cells, the condition, size, and shape of red blood cells in the background of the smeared slide are noted (eg. anisocytosis, poikilocytosis)
- reticul/o
- a net
- reticulocytosis
- an increased number of immature erythrocytes in the blood
- Rh factor
- presence or lack of antigens on the surface of red blood cells, which causes a reaction between Rh-positive blood and Rh-negative blood
- Rh negative
- absence of antigens
- Rh positive
- presence of antigens
- right lymphatic duct
- receives lymph from the right upper part of the body
- septicemia
- systemic disease caused by infection with microorganisms and their toxins in circulating blood
- serum
- liquid portion of the blood that remains after clotting
- spleen
- organ between the stomach and the diaphragm that filters out aging blood cells, removes cellular debris by performing phagocytosis, and provides an environment for lymphocytes to initiate immune responses
- splen/o
- spleen
- splenectomy
- removal of the spleen
- splenomegaly
- enlargement of the spleen
- thoracic duct
- receives lymph from the left side of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, left arm, and lower extermities
- thromb/o
- clot
- thrombocytopenia
- an abnormally decreased number of platelets in the blood, impairing the clotting process
- thromboplastin
- substance present in tissues, platelets, and leukocytes that is necessary for coagulation
- thym/o
- thymus gland
- thymectomy
- removal of the thymus gland
- thymus
- primary gland of the lymphatic system, located within the mediastinum, that helps to maintain the body's immune response by producing T lymphocytes
- vasoconstrictor
- a drug that causes a narrowing of blood vessels, thereby decreasing blood flow
- vasodilator
- a drug that causes dilation of blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow
- white blood count (WBC)
- a count of the number of white blood cells in a given volume of blood obtained via manuel or automated laboratory methods