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plasma
liquid portion of the blood and lymph containing water, proteins, salts, nutrients, hormones, vitamins, and cellular components (leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets)
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serum
liquid portion of the blood left after the clotting process
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erythrocyte
red blood cell that transports oxygen and carbon dioxide within the bloodstream
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neutrophil
a granular leukocyte, named for the neutral stain of its granules, that fights infection by swallowing bacteria (phagocytosis) (neuro = neither; phil = attraction for)
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eosinophil
a granular leukocyte, named for the rose-color stain of its granules, that increases with allergy and some infections [eos = dawn-colored (rosy); phil = attraction for]
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lymphocyte
an agranulocytic leukocyte that is active in the process of immunity--there are four categories of lymphocytes: T cells (thymus dependent); B cells (bone marrow derived); NK cells (natural killer); K-type cells
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platelets
thrombocytes; cell fragments in the blood essential for blood clotting (coagulation)
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lymph
fluid originating in the organs and tissues of the body that is circulated through the lymph vessels
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lymph nodes
many small oval structures that filter the lymph received from the lymph vessels-major locations include the cervical region, axillary region,and inguinal region
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anitgen
a substance that, when introduced into the body, causes the formation of antibodies against it
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antibody
a substance produced by the body that destroys or inactivates an antigen that has entered the body
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immunity
process of disease protection induced by exposure to an antigen
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microcytosis
the presence of small red blood cells
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macrocytosis
the presence of large red blood cells.
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aniscytosis
the presence of red blood cells of unequal size (an = without; iso = equal)
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poiklocytosis
the presence of large, irregularly shaped red blood cells (poikil/o = irregular)
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reticulocytosis
an increase of immature erythrocytes in the blood
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erythropenia
an abnormally reduced number of red blood cells
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lymphocytopenia
an abnormally reduced number of lymphocytes
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neutropenia
a decrease in the number of neutrophils
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pancytopenia
an abnormally reduced number of all cellular components in the blood
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hemolysis
breakdown of the red blood cell membrane
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immunocompromised
impaired immunological defenses caused by an immunodeficiency disorder or therapy with immunosuppressive agents
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immunosuppression
impaired ability to provide an immune response
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lymphadenopathy
the presence of enlarged (diseased) lymph nodes
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splenomegaly
enlargement of the spleen
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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 neurological diseases to develop; it is transmitted sexually or through exposure to contaminated blood
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anemia
a condition in which there is a reduction in the number of red blood cells, the amount of hemoglobin, or the volume of packed red blood cells in the blood, resulting in a diminished ability of the red blood cells to transport oxygen to the tissues; common types follow: aplastic anemia (a normocytic-normochromic type of anemia characterized by the failure of bone marrow to produce red blood cells) b) iron deficiency anemia: a microcytic-hypochromic type of anemia characterized by a lack of iron, affecting production of hemoglobin and characterized by small red blood cells containing low amounts of hemoglobin) c) pernicious anemia: a macrocytic-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
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Rh factor
the presence, or lack, of antigens on the surface of red blood cells that may cause a reaction between the blood of the mother and fetus, resulting in fetal anemia. Rh positive: the presence of antigens; Rh negative: the absence of antigens
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hemophilia
a group of hereditary bleeding disorders in which there is a defect in clotting factors necessary for the coagulation of blood
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leukemia
a chronic or acute malignant (cancerous) disease of the blood-forming organs, marked by abnormal leukocytes in the blood and bone marrow; classified according to the types of white cells affected (e.g., myelocytic, lymphocytic)
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lymphoma
any neoplastic disorder of lymph tissue, usually malignant, as in Hodgkin disease
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metastasis
the process by which cancer cells are spread by blood or lymph circulation to distant organs
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mononucleosis
a condition caused by the Epstein-Barr virus characterized by an increase in mononuclear cells (monocytes and lymphocytes) in the blood, along with enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy), fatigue, and sore throat (pharyngitis)
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thrombocytopenia
a bleeding disorder characterized by an abnormal decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, which impairs the clotting process
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blood chemistry panel
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 (e.g., metabolic panel, lipid panel, arthritis panel)
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blood culture
a 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
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complete blood count (CBC)
the most common laboratory blood test performed as a screen of general health or for diagnostic purposes; the following is a listing of the component tests included in a CBC (note: CBC results are usually reported within normal values so that the clinician can interpret the results based on the instrumentation used by the laboratory; normal ranges also may vary depending on factors such as the region and climate)
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white blood count (WBC)
a count of the number of white blood cells per cubic millimeter obtained by manual or automated laboratory methods.
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red blood count (RBC)
a count of the number of red blood cells per cubic millimeter obtained by manual or automated laboratory methods
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hemoglobin (Hgb)
a test to determine the blood level of hemoglobin (expressed in grams)
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hematocrit (HCT)
a measurement of the percentage of packed red blood cells in a given volume of bloodClick to flip
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