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Glossary

Showing 131-140 out of 1184 Terms

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  • Blood transfusion

    (blud tranz-FYOO-zhun)

    The infusion of red blood cells or platelets into your blood stream to replace blood loss or to correct anemia.

  • Blood typing and cross matching

    Making sure that the blood from a donor is compatible with yours before a blood transfusion. Blood cells contain factors that are not the same in all people. Before a transfusion can be given, blood samples from the donor and you are typed, or classified according to which of these factors are present. The four principal red blood cell types or groups are A, B, AB or O. Other factors such as Rh factor must also be checked.

  • Blood urea nitrogen

    (blud yoo-REE-uh NY-troh-jen)

    Nitrogen in the blood that comes from urea (a substance formed by the breakdown of protein in the liver). The kidneys filter urea out of the blood and into the urine. A high level of urea nitrogen in the blood may be a sign of a kidney problem. Also called BUN and urea nitrogen.

  • Blood vessels

    (blud VEH-sels)

    A tube through which the blood circulates in the body. Blood vessels include a network of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.

  • Blood-brain barrier

    (blud-brayn BAYR-ee-er)

    A network of blood vessels and tissue that is made up of closely spaced cells and helps keep harmful substances from reaching the brain. The blood-brain barrier lets some substances, such as water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and general anesthetics, pass into the brain. It also keeps out bacteria and other substances, such as many anticancer drugs.

  • Bloodstream

    (BLUD-streem)

    The flow or movement of blood throughout the body.

  • Bloom syndrome

    (… SIN-drome)

    A rare, inherited disorder marked by shorter than average height, a narrow face, a red skin rash that occurs on sun-exposed areas of the body, and an increased risk of cancer. The rash usually occurs on the face, arms, and back of the hands. Small clusters of enlarged blood vessels may appear in the rash and in the eyes. Other signs and symptoms include patches of skin that may be lighter or darker than the skin around them, a small jaw and large ears, a high-pitched voice, fertility problems, learning problems, and other growth and developmental problems.

  • Bone density

    (bone DEN-sih-tee)

    A measure of the amount of minerals (mostly calcium and phosphorous) contained in a certain volume of bone. Bone density measurements are used to diagnose osteoporosis (a condition marked by decreased bone mass), to see how well osteoporosis treatments are working, and to predict how likely the bones are to break. Low bone density can occur in patients treated for cancer. Also called BMD, bone mass, and bone mineral density.

  • Bone marrow

    (bone MAYR-oh)

    The soft, sponge-like tissue in the center of most bones. It produces white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

  • Bone marrow aspiration

    (bone MAYR-oh AS-pih-RAY-shun)

    A procedure in which a small sample of bone marrow is removed, usually from the hip bone, breastbone, or thigh bone. A small area of skin and the surface of the bone underneath are numbed with an anesthetic. Then, a special wide needle is pushed into the bone. A sample of liquid bone marrow is removed with a syringe attached to the needle. The bone marrow is sent to a laboratory to be looked at under a microscope. This procedure may be done at the same time as a bone marrow biopsy.