Glossary
Acidosis a condition in which there is too much acid in the body fluids.
Allele an alternate form of a gene, found on the same place on a chromosome, that came about because of a mutation.
Alpha cell cells situated on the periphery of the islets of Langerhans.
Amino acids any of a class of organic compounds that contains at least one amino-group
Anemia a condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.
Antibody a protein produced by the immune system to combat foreign substances in the body, or an antigen.
Antigen a substance foreign to the body that makes the immune system start producing antibodies against it.
Artery a blood vessel that conveys blood from the heart to any part of the body. The two types are pulmonary arteries and systemic arteries.
Atrium either of the two upper chambers on each side of the heart that receive blood from the veins and in turn force it into the ventricles.
Autoimmune diseases a disease resulting from a disordered immune reaction in which antibodies are produced against one's own tissues, as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Autosomal recessive one of several ways that a trait, disorder, or disease can be passed down through families.
A
B
Basophils a white blood cell having a two-lobed nuclei and basophilic granules in its cytoplasm
Beta cell a type of lymphocyte, developed in bone marrow, that circulates in the blood and lymph and, upon encountering a particular foreign antigen, differentiates into a clone of plasma cells that secrete a specific antibody and a clone of memory cells that make the antibody on subsequent encounters.
Blood the fluid that circulates in the principal vascular system of human beings and other vertebrates, in humans consisting of plasma in which the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended.
Blood type A, B, AB, and O.
Blood vessels any of the vessels, as arteries, veins, or capillaries, through which the blood circulates.
Bone marrow transplant a technique in which a small amount of bone marrow is withdrawn by a syringe from a donor's pelvic bone and injected into a patient whose ability to make new blood cells has been impaired by disease, as anemia or cancer, or by exposure to radiation.
C
Capillary one of the minute blood vessels between the terminations of the arteries and the beginnings of the veins.
Carbon dioxide a colorless, odorless, incombustible gas, CO 2 , present in the atmosphere and formed during respiration, usually obtained from coal, coke, or natural gas by combustion
Cardiac Cycles one complete heartbeat, consisting of one contraction and relaxation of the heart.
Cardiovascular of, pertaining to, or affecting the heart and blood vessels.
Carrier a heterozygous individual bearing an unexpressed defective gene.
Cellular Metabolism the chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life. In metabolism some substances are broken down to yield energy for vital processes while other substances, necessary for life, are synthesized.
Cellular Respiration the oxidation of organic compounds that occurs within cells, producing energy for cellular processes.
Centrifuge an apparatus that rotates at high speed and by centrifugal force separates substances of different densities, as milk and cream.
Chemical messenger mediators that accomplish indirect communication between cells
Chemotherapy the treatment of disease by means of chemicals that have a specific toxic effect upon the disease-producing microorganisms or that selectively destroy cancerous tissue.
Chromatography the separation of mixtures into their constituents by preferential adsorption by a solid, as a column of silica.
Chromosome any of several threadlike bodies, consisting of chromatin, that carry the genes in a linear order: the human species has 23 pairs, designated 1 to 22 in order of decreasing size and X and Y for the female and male sex chromosomes.
Codominance pertaining to two different alleles that are fully expressed in a heterozygous individual.
Crisis the point in the course of a serious disease at which a decisive change occurs, leading either to recovery or to death.
D
Disorder a disturbance in physical or mental health or functions; malady or dysfunction.
E
Electrolyte a conducting medium in which the flow of current is accompanied by the movement of matter in the form of ions.
Eosinophil any cell, tissue, organism, or substance that has an affinity for eosin and other acid stains.
Erythrocyte a red blood cell
F
Fatty Acids any of a class of aliphatic acids, especially palmitic, stearic, or oleic acid, consisting of a long hydrocarbon chain ending in a carboxyl group that bonds to glycerol to form a fat.
Fibrinogen a globulin occurring in blood and yielding fibrin in blood coagulation.
Folic acid a water-soluble vitamin that is converted to a coenzyme essential to purine and thymidine biosynthesis: deficiency causes a form of anemia.
G
Gene the basic physical unit of heredity; a linear sequence of nucleotides along a segment of DNA that provides the coded instructions for synthesis of RNA, which, when translated into protein, leads to the expression of hereditary character.
Genetic the science of heredity, dealing with resemblances and differences of related organisms resulting from the interaction of their genes and the environment.
Genotype the genetic makeup of an organism or group of organisms with reference to a single trait, set of traits, or an entire complex of traits.
Glucose a sugar, C6 H12 O6, having several optically different forms.
H
Heart a hollow, pump like organ of blood circulation, composed mainly of rhythmically contractile muscle, located in the chest between the lungs and slightly to the left.
Hematologist the study of the nature, function, and diseases of the blood and of blood-forming organs.
Hemoglobin the oxygen-carrying pigment of red blood cells that gives them their red color and serves to convey oxygen to the tissues.
Hemoglobinopathy any of various inherited diseases, including sickle-cell anemia and thalassemia , characterized by abnormal hemoglobin.
Histamine a heterocyclic amine, C5 H9 N3, released by mast cells when tissue is injured or in allergic and inflammatory reactions, causing dilation of small blood vessels and smooth muscle contraction
Homeostasis the tendency of a system, especially the physiological system of higher animals, to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of its parts to any situation or stimulus that would tend to disturb its normal condition or function.
Hydroxyurea a synthetic compound, CH 4 N 2 O 2 , used in cancer therapy.inherited- to receive (a genetic character) by the transmission of hereditary factors.
L
Lactic acid a colorless or yellowish, syrupy, water-soluble liquid, C 3 H 6 O 3 , produced during muscle contraction as a product of anaerobic glucose metabolism, abundant in sour milk, prepared usually by fermentation of corn starch, molasses, potatoes, etc.
Malaria any of a group of diseases, usually intermittent or remittent, characterized by attacks of chills, fever, and sweating
Monocyte a large, circulating white blood cell, formed in bone marrow and in the spleen, that ingests large foreign particles and cell debris.
Neutrophil a phagocytic white blood cell having a lobulated nucleus and neutrophil granules in the cytoplasm.
Nutrient a substance that provides nourishment for growth or metabolism
Oxygen a colorless, odorless, gaseous element constituting about one-fifth of the volume of the atmosphere and present in a combined state in nature.
Pathology the branch of medicine concerned with the cause, origin, and nature of disease, including the changes occurring as a result of disease
Pedigree an ancestral line; line of descent; lineage; ancestry.
Peripheral of, relating to, or being blood in the systemic circulation
pH the symbol for the logarithm of the reciprocal of hydrogen ion concentration in gram atoms per liter, used to express the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a scale of 0 to 14, where less than 7 represents acidity, 7 neutrality, and more than 7 alkalinity.
Placenta the organ in most mammals, formed in the lining of the uterus by the union of the uterine mucous membrane with the membranes of the fetus, that provides for the nourishment of the fetus and the elimination of its waste products.
Plasma the liquid part of blood or lymph, as distinguished from the suspended elements.
Platelet a small colorless disk-shaped cell fragment without a nucleus, found in large numbers in blood and involved in clotting.
Protein any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds that consist of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms
Pulmonary circulation the circulation of blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and back to the heart.
Punnett square a type of grid used to show the gametes of each parent and their possible offspring; a type of grid that can indicate all the possible outcomes of a genetic cross
Recessive of, or pertaining to, a gene (or allele) whose phenotypic expression is masked by a dominant gene (or allele).
Red blood cell one of the cells of the blood, which in mammals are enucleated disks concave on both sides, contain hemoglobin, and carry oxygen to the cells and tissues and carbon dioxide back to the respiratory organs.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) a condition, also known as sickle cell anemia, where there is not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.
Stem cell a cell that upon division replaces its own numbers and also gives rise to cells that differentiate further into one or more specialized types, as various B cells and T cells.
Stroke a throb or pulsation, as of the heart.
Systemic circulation the general circulation of the blood through the body, as opposed to the circulation of the blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart.
Thalassemia a hereditary form of anemia, occurring chiefly in people of Mediterranean origin, marked by the abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin and a consequent shortened life span of red blood cells.
Thrombocytes one of the minute, nucleate cells that aid coagulation in the blood of those vertebrates that do not have blood platelets.
Tourniquet any device for arresting bleeding by forcibly compressing a blood vessel,as a bandage tightened by twisting.
Trait a distinguishing characteristic or quality, especially of one's personal.
Transfusion the direct transferring of blood, plasma, or the like into a blood vessel.
Urea a compound, CO(NH2)2, occurring in urine and other body fluids as a product of protein metabolism.
Vein one of the system of branching vessels or tubes conveying blood from various parts of the body to the heart.
Ventricle either of the two lower chambers on each side of the heart that receive blood from the atria and in turn force it into the arteries.
White blood cell any of various nearly colorless cells of the immune system that circulate mainly in the blood and lymph and participate in reactions to invading microorganisms or foreign particles, comprising the B Cells, T cells, macrophages, monocytes, and granulocytes.