Blood: Glossary

A

anemia

the inability for red blood cells to carry enough oxygen to nourish the body

antibodies

proteins in the body used by the immune system to fight foreign substances

antigen

any substance that causes the body to produce antibodies

arteries

blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart

B

bacteria

microscopic life that can cause illness

blood pressure

the force that the blood exerts against the walls of veins and arteries as it moves through them

blood vessels

veins, arteries and capillaries which carry blood through the body

bone marrow

a spongy material in the center of large bones

C

carbon dioxide

a gas that is made by the body as a waste product

circulatory system

the body system that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs, out to all of the cells and back the heart

coagulate

change from a liquid to a gel-like material

compatible

able to work together

D

diastolic

a number that represents the resting blood pressure

donor

a person who gives blood to be transfused

E

erythrocytes

red blood cells

H

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus - attacks the white blood cells and destroys them

hematologist

a scientist who studies blood

hemoglobin

a protein that allows red blood cells to carry oxygen

hemophilia

a disease that causes the blood to not clot

histamine

a protein released by the body in response to antigens

hypertension

high blood pressure

hypotension

low blood pressure

I

immune system

the system of the body that protects it from disease

invertebrate

animals without a backbone

L

leukemia

cancer of the blood

leukocytes

white blood cells

N

neutropenia

an abnormally low number of white blood cells

nutrients

good parts of food

O

oxygen

the gas that our body uses

P

parasite

an organism that lives off of a host animal, causing disease

protein

a combination of amino acids that helps the different cells of the body

pulse

the measure of the heart rate

R

Rh factor

an antigen found on the surface of red blood cells of people who test positive

S

sickle cell anemia

a disease of certain ethnic groups that causes anemia

sphygmomanometer

a tool that measures blood pressure

systolic

the pressure of the blood during heart contractions

T

thrombocytes

platelets

tissue

a collection of cells that perform a job

transfusion

the transfer of blood products from one person to another

V

veins

blood vessels that carry blood to the heart