Antibodies
Specialized proteins that aid in
destroying infectious agents
Arteries
Strong Blood vessels that carry
blood away from the heart
Arteriole
Carry blood to the smallest of
all blood vessels
Atrium
Each of the two upper chambers of the
heart that receives blood that comes into
the heart.
Blood
A connective tissue with a fluid matrix called
plasma in which red blood cells, white blood cells,
and cell fragments called platelets are suspended.
Blood Pressure
Force exerted by the blood against
the walls of the blood vessels
Capillaries
Microscopic vessel through which exchanges
take place between the blood and cells of the
body
Heart
A hollow, muscular organ that
pumps blood throughout the body.
Hemoglobin
An iron-containing protein in red blood
cells that reversibly binds oxygen.
Lymph
A colorless fluid, like plasma but containing little
protein. Transports dead cells, bacteria and waste
matter from body into the lymphatic system.
Lymph nodes
Located in clusters along the pathway of
lympathetic vessels; Filter blood; occur in
groups or clusters
Lymphocytes
A type of white blood cell that make
antibodies to fight off infections
Plasma
Pale-yellow fluid of blood and lymph containing dissolved
proteins, glucose, clotting factors, salts, and hormones in
which erythrocytes and leukocytes and platelets are
suspended
Platelets
Thrombocytes; cell fragments that
are involved in blood clotting
Pulse
Beat of the heart as felt through
the walls of the arteries.
Red Blood Cells (RBC)
Erythrocytes; blood cells containing
hemoglobin that carry oxygen through the
bloodstream
Serum
Clear fluid portion of blood
that remains after clotting
spleen
An organ that is part of the lymphatic system; it
produces lymphocytes, filters the blood, stores
blood cells, and destroys old blood cells.
Thymus
An immune organ located near the heart.
The site of T cell maturation and is larger in
children and adolescents.
Tonsils
Collections of lymphatic tissue
located on each side of the throat
Veins
Blood vessels that carry blood
back to the heart
Ventricles
Two lower chambers of the
heart
Venule
The very small veins that connect
capillaries to the larger veins
White Blood Cells
Leukocytes; blood cells that perform the
function of destroying disease-causing
microorganisms