|
 |
|
|
 |
Glossary
|
|
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N
O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
|
|
A |
|
acute - severe, sharp, begins quickly.
acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) - a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood in which too many immature (not fully formed) lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, are found in the bone marrow, blood, spleen, liver, and other organs.
acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) - a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood in which too many immature (not fully formed) granulocytes, a type of white blood cell, are found in the bone marrow and blood.
allogeneic bone marrow transplantation - a procedure in which a person receives stem cells from a compatible donor.
anemia - a blood disorder caused by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells).
aplastic anemia - one type of anemia that occurs when the bone marrow produces too few of all three types of blood cells: red cells, white cells, and platelets.
apheresis - a procedure in which a patient's own blood is removed, particular fluid and cellular elements are extracted from the blood, then returned to the patient.
autologous bone marrow transplantation - a procedure in which a patient's own bone marrow is removed, treated with anticancer drugs or radiation, then returned to the patient.
autosomal recessive inheritance - a gene on one of the first 22 pairs of chromosomes, which, when present in two copies, causes a trait or disease to be expressed. |
|
 Back to top |
|
B |
|
barium swallow/upper GI series - a diagnostic test that examines the organs of the upper part of the digestive system: the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (the first section of the small intestine). A fluid called barium (a metallic, chemical, chalky, liquid used to coat the inside of organs so that they will show up on an x-ray) is swallowed. X-rays are then taken to evaluate the digestive organs.
blasts - immature blood cells.
blood - the life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.
blood banking - the process that takes place in a laboratory to ensure that the donated blood or blood products are safe before they are used for blood transfusions or other medical procedures.
bone marrow - the soft, spongy tissue found inside bones. It is the site of development and storage of about 95 percent of the body's blood cells.
bone marrow aspiration and biopsy - the marrow may be removed by aspiration or a needle biopsy under local anesthesia. In aspiration biopsy, a fluid specimen is removed from the bone marrow. In a needle biopsy, marrow cells (not fluid) are removed. These methods are often used together.
bone marrow transplant (BMT) - the transfusion of healthy bone marrow cells into a person after their own unhealthy bone marrow has been eliminated. |
|
Back to top |
|
C |
|
clotting - the sealing of a blood vessel with coagulated blood.
chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) - a slowly progressing cancer of the blood in which too many white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow.
complete blood count (CBC) - a measurement of size, number, and maturity of the different blood cells in a specific volume of blood. |
|
Back to top |
|
D |
|
Back to top |
|
E |
|
Back to top |
|
F |
|
factor - a protein in the blood that is needed to form the blood clot.
folic acid deficiency - a deficiency in a B vitamin known as folic acid, which can cause megaloblastic anemia. |
|
Back to top |
|
G |
|
gene - a segment of DNA that codes for a trait such as blood type or eye color, as well as susceptibility to certain diseases.
graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) - the condition that results when the immune cells of a transplant (usually of bone marrow) from a donor attack the tissues of the person receiving the transplant.
granulocytes - a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection. The types of granulocytes include: basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils. |
|
Back to top |
|
H |
|
hemarthrosis - bleeding into a joint.
hematocrit - the measurement of the percentage of red blood cells found in a specific volume of blood.
hematologist - a physician who specializes in the functions and disorders of the blood.
hematology - the scientific study of blood and blood-forming tissues.
hematopoiesis - the process of producing and developing new blood cells.
hemoglobin - a type of protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen to the tissues of the body.
hemoglobin S-beta thalassemia - having one copy of the gene which causes sickle cell anemia (HbS) and one copy of a mutated gene in the beta-chain of hemoglobin; this blood disorder produces a moderate anemia and some symptoms similar to sickle cell anemia.
hemolysis - the destruction of red blood cells by the body.
hemolytic anemia - one type of anemia in which the red blood cells are destroyed prematurely.
hemophilia (Also called a coagulation disorder.) - an inherited bleeding disorder caused by low levels, or absence of, a blood protein that is essential for clotting; hemophilia A is caused by a lack of the blood clotting protein factor VIII; hemophilia B is caused by a deficiency of factor IX.
hemorrhagic anemia - anemia caused by a sudden loss of a large amount of blood. |
|
Back to top |
|
I |
|
immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) - a blood disorder characterized by an abnormal decrease in the number of blood platelets, which results in internal bleeding. There are two forms of ITP: acute ITP and chronic ITP.
intravenous gamma globulin (IVGG) - a protein that contains many antibodies and slows destruction of platelets; used in the treatment of ITP.
iron deficiency anemia - the most common type of anemia. It is the lack of iron in the blood, which is necessary to make hemoglobin. |
|
Back to top |
|
J |
|
jaundice - yellowing of the skin, eyes, and oral mucosa. |
|
Back to top |
|
K |
|
Back to top |
|
L |
|
leukemia - a cancer of the blood-forming tissue. Leukemic cells look different than normal cells and do not function properly.
lymphocytic leukemia - a type of leukemia in which the cancer develops in the lymphocytes (lymphoid cells). |
|
Back to top |
|
M |
|
megaloblastic (pernicious) anemia - a rare blood disorder in which the body does not absorb enough vitamin B-12 from the digestive tract, resulting in an inadequate amount of red blood cells (RBCs) produced.
mucositis - inflammation of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract.
mutation - a change in a gene.
myelogenous leukemia - a type of leukemia in which the cancer develops in the granulocytes or monocytes (myeloid cells).
myeloproliferative disorders - diseases in which the bone marrow produces too many of one of the three types of blood cells: red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all the tissues in the body; white blood cells, which fight infection; and platelets, which makes blood clot. |
|
Back to top |
|
N |
|
Back to top |
|
O |
|
Back to top |
|
P |
|
petechia - tiny red dots under the skin that are the result of very small bleeds.
plasma - the watery, liquid part of the blood in which the red blood cells, the white blood cells, and platelets are suspended.
platelets - cells found in the blood that are needed to help the blood to clot in order to control bleeding; often used in the treatment of leukemia and other forms of cancer.
pluripotent stem cell - the most primitive, undeveloped blood cell.
purpura - the purple color of skin after blood has "leaked" under it, such as in a bruise. |
|
Back to top |
|
Q |
|
Back to top |
|
R |
|
red blood cells (Also called RBCs or erythrocytes.) - blood cells that mainly help transport oxygen to all the tissues in the body. |
|
Back to top |
|
S |
|
sickle cell anemia - an inherited blood disorder characterized by defective hemoglobin, where there are two copies of an abnormal hemoglobin gene present (HbSS).
sickle cell - hemoglobin C disease - having one copy of the gene which causes sickle cell anemia (HbS) and one copy of another altered hemoglobin gene (HbC); this blood disorder is similar to sickle cell anemia.
sickle cell - hemoglobin E disease - having one copy of the gene which causes sickle cell anemia (HbS) and one copy of another altered hemoglobin gene (HbE); this blood disorder may/may not cause symptoms except under stress (exhaustion, infection, etc.).
sickle cell trait - having one copy of the gene which causes sickle cell anemia (HbS), and one copy of the normal hemoglobin gene.
stem cells - the blood cells that reproduce and develop into other blood cells.
sickle crisis (Also called pain crisis or vasoocclusive crisis.) - in sickle cell diseases, the pain that occurs when the flow of blood is blocked to an area because the sickled cells are stuck in a blood vessel. |
|
Back to top |
|
T |
|
thalassemia - an inherited blood disorder in which the chains of the hemoglobin (a type of protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the tissues) molecule are abnormal; alpha thalassemia is where a mutation occurs in the alpha chain, while beta thalassemia is where the mutation occurs in the beta chain; signs and symptoms of thalassemias vary from mild (little to no symptoms) to severe (life threatening). |
|
Back to top |
|
U |
|
Back to top |
|
V |
|
von Willebrand disease - a form of hemophilia caused by an abnormality in the von Willebrand factor, which is necessary for platelets to be able to attach themselves to a vein or artery to form a clot to stop bleeding. |
|
Back to top |
|
W |
|
white blood cells (Also called WBCs or leukocytes) - blood cells involved in the destruction of viruses, bacteria, and fungi which cause infection. |
|
Back to top |
|
X |
|
Back to top |
|
Y |
|
Back to top |
|
Z |
|
Back to top
|
|
Click here to view the Online Resources page of this Web.
Return to the Hematology and Blood Disorders Home Page
Return to the Disorders, Diseases and Organ Topics Home Page | |
| |
|
|
|
 Back to top
|
|
|
|
