Glossary
Adaptive immunity: The production of antibodies by B cells and targeted killing of infected cells by T cells. (Chapter 3.2)
Agranulocytosis: A severe reduction in WBCs. (Chapter 3.11)
Anemia: A clinical sign characterized by a reduction in either the number of red blood cells, the amount of hemoglobin, or the hematocrit (percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume). (Chapter 3.5)
Angina: Chest pain. (Chapter 3.6)
Aplastic anemia: A relatively rare but serious medical condition characterized by a significant reduction or absence of all three major blood cell types: red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. (Chapter 3.12)
Bone marrow aspiration: The extraction of a small sample of liquid bone marrow from the center of a bone. (Chapter 3.3)
Bone marrow biopsy: A procedure that involves obtaining a small core of bone and marrow tissue from the bone marrow space. (Chapter 3.3)
Coagulation cascade: A complex series of reactions involving a variety of coagulation factors that eventually leads to the formation of a fibrin clot. (Chapter 3.2)
Dyspnea: Shortness of breath. (Chapter 3.6, Chapter 3.9)
Erythrocytes: Red blood cells (RBCs). (Chapter 3.2)
Erythromelalgia: Flushed or reddened skin, especially in the face or hands, due to engorged blood vessels. (Chapter 3.9)
Erythropoietin: An enzyme produced by the kidneys in response to hypoxia and essential for RBC production. (Chapter 3.2)
Fibrin clot formation: The final step in the clotting process. (Chapter 3.2)
Fibrinolysis: The process in which a clot is degraded in a healing vessel. (Chapter 3.2)
Glossitis: Inflammation of the tongue. (Chapter 3.6)
Hemarthrosis: Bleeding into joints. (Chapter 3.10)
Hematuria: Blood in the urine. (Chapter 3.3, Chapter 3.9)
Hemoglobin electrophoresis: A blood test that allows for the detection of abnormal types of hemoglobin and often used when diagnosing sickle cell disease. (Chapter 3.8)
Hemoptysis: Coughing up blood. (Chapter 3.10)
Hemostasis: The process by which the body seals a ruptured blood vessel and prevents further loss of blood. (Chapter 3.2)
Hepatomegaly: Enlarged liver. (Chapter 3.8)
International Normalized Ratio (INR): A blood test that measures how long it takes for the blood to clot compared to a standardized value. (Chapter 3.2)
Intrinsic factor: A protein produced by the parietal cells of the stomach that allows vitamin B12 to be absorbed by the intestines. (Chapter 3.7)
Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA): A type of anemia characterized by a lack of sufficient iron in the body, leading to a decrease in the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells. (Chapter 3.6)
Jaundice: A yellow discoloration in the skin, mucus membranes, and eyes due to the body’s inability to adequately metabolize bilirubin. (Chapter 3.2)
Koilonychia: Thin, brittle, or spoon-shaped nails often resulting from iron-deficiency anemia. (Chapter 3.6)
Leukocytes: White blood cells (WBCs). (Chapter 3.2)
Leukopenia: An abnormally low number of circ