Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

A disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). People with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome are at an increased risk for developing certain cancers and for infections that usually occur only in individuals with a weak immune system (National Cancer Institute, n.d.)

Anaphylaxis

An acute hypersensitivity reaction due to exposure to a previously encountered antigen.

Anemia

A condition in which the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin is deficient.

Aneurys

Weakening of the wall of a blood vessel, causing it to thin and balloon out, and possibly eventually burst, resulting in internal bleeding.

Angiography

A procedure to x-ray blood vessels.

Angioplasty

A procedure in which an occlusion is mechanically widened with a balloon.

Angioscope

Instrument used for visual examination of blood vessels.

Angioscopy

Endoscopic examination of blood vessels.

Anti-B antibodies

Proteins that will mount an immune response against B antigens.

Antibodies

Proteins made by plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) in response to an antigen (a substance that causes the body to make a specific immune response). Each antibody can bind to only one specific antigen. The purpose of this binding is to help destroy the antigen.

Antigens

Substances that provokes an immune response. This happens because the immune system sees the antigen as foreign, or ‘non-self” (does not belong in that body).

Aortic stenosis

A condition in which the aortic valve becomes rigid and may calcify over time.

Artery

A blood vessel that transports blood away from the heart.

Arteriole

A very small artery that leads to a capillary.

Arteriogram

An x-ray of arteries.

Arteriosclerosis

The generalized loss of compliance; “hardening of the arteries”.

Atherectomy

Excision of fatty plaque.

Atherosclerosis

A hardening of the arteries that involves the accumulation of fatty plaque.

Brachial artery

The large artery in the upper arm near the biceps muscle.

Capillaries

The smallest type of blood vessel. A capillary connects an arteriole (small artery) to a venule (small vein) to form a network of blood vessels in almost all parts of the body.

Cardiac output

The measurement of blood flow from the heart through the ventricles and is usually measured in liters per minute. Any factor that causes cardiac output to increase, by elevating heart rate or stroke volume or both, will elevate blood pressure and promote blood flow.

Cardiac tamponad

A potentially fatal condition in which excess fluid builds within the pericardial space, preventing the heart from beating effectively.

Cardiogenic

Originating from the heart.

Carotid artery

Located in the neck, it is one of the three major branches of the aortic arch.

Centrifugation

Process of using a rotating machine to generate centrifugal force to separate substances of different densities, remove moisture, or simulate gravitational effects.

Chemoreceptors

Cells that sense changes in chemical levels.

Chemotaxis

Movement in response to chemicals; a phenomenon in which injured or infected cells and nearby leukocytes emit the equivalent of a chemical “911” call, attracting more leukocytes to the site.

Role of Blood: transportation

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Compliance

The ability of the blood vessels to dilate and constrict as needed.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

Surgery in which a healthy blood vessel taken from another part of the body is used to make a new path for blood around a blocked artery leading to the heart. This restores the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart.

Coronary heart disease

A disease in which there is a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries.

Crohn’s disease

A condition in which the gastrointestinal tract is inflamed over a long period of time.

Diapedesis

The migration of blood cells through the intact walls of blood vessels into the surrounding tissue.

Diastolic pressure

The arterial pressure of blood during ventricular relaxation, or diastole.

Edema

Swelling due to excessive liquid in the tissues.

Embolus

An obstruction such as a blood clot or plaque that blocks the flow of blood in an artery or vein.

Endarterectomy

Excision of plaque from within the artery.

Endothelium

Epithelium that lines vessels in the lymphatic and cardiovascular systems.

Epiphyses

The wider section at the end of long bones.

Erythrocyte

A red blood cell.

Erythropoietin (EPO)

A hormone produced by the kidneys that triggers the production of red blood cells.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis

Hematopoiesis outside the medullary cavity of adult bones.

Heart rate

The number of times the heart beats within a certain time period, usually a minute.

Hematocrit

A lab test which measures the percentage red blood cells in a sample of whole blood.

Hematologist

A doctor who has special training in diagnosing and treating blood disorders.

Hematology

The study of blood and blood-forming issues.

Hematoma

A pool of mostly clotted blood that forms in an organ, tissue, or body space.

Hemolysis

The breakdown of red blood cells.

Hemopoiesis

The process by which the body produces blood.

Hemopoietic growth factors

Chemical messengers which promote the proliferation and differentiation of formed elements and include erythropoietin, thrombopoietin, colony-stimulating factors, and interleukins.

Hemorrhage

Excessive bleeding.

Hemostasis

The process by which the body seals a ruptured blood vessel to prevent further blood loss.

Homeostasis

The state of steady internal conditions maintained by living things.

Hypertension

Abnormally high blood pressure.

Hypothermia

Abnormally low body temperature.

Hypothyroidism

The disease state caused by insufficient production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland.

Hypovolemic

An abnormally low volume of blood circulating through the body.

Hypoxemia

Below-normal level of oxygen saturation of blood (typically <95 percent).

Hypoxia

Lack of oxygen supply to the tissues.

Immunodeficiency

The decreased ability of the body to fight infections and other diseases.

Intravenous

Into or within the vein.

Ischemia

Lack of blood flow to body tissues.

Leukocyte

White blood cell(s).

Leukocytopenia

An abnormal decrease in the number of leukocytes.

Lupus

A chronic, inflammatory, connective tissue disease that can affect the joints and many organs.

Lymphadenitis

Inflammation of lymph nodes.

Lymphadenopathy

Disease or swelling of the lymph nodes.

Lymphoma

A form of cancer in which masses of malignant T and/or B lymphocytes collect in lymph nodes, the spleen, the liver, and other tissues. These leukocytes do not function properly, and the patient is vulnerable to infection.

Macrophage

A large cell derived from a monocyte; they participate in innate immune responses.

Medulla oblongata

A part of the brain stem responsible for control of heart rate and breathing.

Myeloma

Cancer that arises in plasma cells.

Myelopoiesis

Formation of bone marrow.

Pancytopenia

A condition in which there is a lower-than-normal number of red and white blood cells and platelets in the blood.

Perfusion

Penetration of blood.

Peripheral arterial disease

Obstruction of vessels in peripheral regions of the body.

pH

A measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is, as determined by the number of free hydrogen ions in the substance.

Phagocytized

The process by which certain cells are able to “eat” other cells or substances by engulfing them.

Phlebitis

Inflammation of a vein.

Phlebotomist

A medical professional trained to draw blood, typically by performing a venipuncture of a surface vein of the arm.

Phlebotomy

A procedure in which a needle is used to take blood from a vein, usually for laboratory testing.

Placenta

The organ that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, excretes waste products, and produces and secretes estrogens and progesterone.

Plaque

A fatty material including cholesterol, connective tissue, white blood cells, and some smooth muscle cells.

Plasma cells

A type of B lymphocyte that produces antibodies which bind to specific foreign or abnormal antigens, in order to destroy them.

Plasmapheresis

A procedure in which a machine is used to separate the plasma from the blood cells.

Pneumothorax

An abnormal collection of air in the space between the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and the chest cavity that can cause all or part of the lung to collapse.

Polycythemia vera

A type of bone marrow disease that causes an excessive production of immature erythrocytes.

Pulmonary embolism

A blood clot within the lung.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An autoimmune disorder in which the body mounts an immune response against its own joint tissues, causing inflammation and damage to the joints.

Sepsis

Organismal-level inflammatory response to a massive infection.

Sickle cell disease

An inherited disease in which the red blood cells have an abnormal crescent shape, block small blood vessels, and do not last as long as normal red blood cells; also called sickle cell anemia.

Splenectomy

Excision of the spleen.

Splenomegaly

Enlarged spleen.

Sphygmomanometer

A blood pressure cuff attached to a measuring device, or gauge.

Systolic pressure

The arterial pressure resulting from the ejection of blood during ventricular contraction, or systole.

Thalassemia

A genetic disorder characterized by abnormal synthesis of globin proteins and excessive destruction of erythrocytes.

Thrombocyte

Platelets.

Thrombocytopenia

A condition in which there is an insufficient number of platelets.

Thrombocytosis

A condition in which there are too many platelets.

Thrombophlebitis

Inflammation of a vein that occurs when a blood clot forms.

Thrombosis

The formation of unwanted blood clots.

Thrombus

Aggregation of fibrin, platelets, and erythrocytes in an intact artery or vein.

Thrombolysis

The process of breaking up a thrombus that is blocking blood flow.

Thymectomy

Excision of the thymus gland.

Thymoma

Tumor of the thymus gland.

Tissue rejection

The recipient’s immune system recognizes the transplanted tissue as non-self and mounts an immune response against it, ultimately destroying it.

Vasoconstriction

The physiological narrowing of blood vessels by contraction of the vascular smooth muscle.

Vasodilation

The physiological widening of blood vessels by relaxing the vascular smooth muscle.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart.

Venules

Small blood vessels that carry blood to a vein.

Viscosity

A measure of a fluid’s thickness or resistance to flow.