- 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
capillaries
- tiny, thin-walled blood vessels that distribute oxygen directly to the cells of the body
carbon dioxide
- a gas that is made by the body as a waste product
circulation
- continuous, orderly movement within a closed circuit, as in the movement of blood through the body’s blood vessels caused by the pumping action of the heart
circulatory system
- the body system that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs, out to all of the cells and back to the heart
coagulate
- change from a liquid to a gel-like material
compatible
- able to work together
concave
- rounded inward, like the inside of a bowl
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
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
HIV
- human immunodeficiency virus - attacks the white blood cells and destroys them
hypertension
- high blood pressure
hypotension
- low blood pressure
I
immune system
- the system of the body that protects it from disease
inherited
- a disease or trait that is passed down from parent to child
invertebrate
- animals without a backbone
iron
- a mineral found in all living things and an important component of hemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body.
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
- a protein found on the surface of red blood cells in those people who have Rh-positive blood, while Rh-negative individuals lack the Rh protein
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
vertebrate
- animals with backbones, including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles
