Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Blood-nerve barrier

    A physiological barrier between nerves and capillaries that partially blocks the flow of ions from the blood across the perineurium.  

  • Bloodletting

    Removal of blood from the body as therapeutic measure, usually by venipuncture. It is used to treat hemochromatosis, polycythemia vera, and infants born with excessively high hemoglobin levels.  

  • Blood gas analysis

    Chemical analysis of the pH, carbon dioxide and oxygen concentrations, and oxygen saturation of the blood. This analysis is used to diagnose serious metabolic and respiratory disorders. It may be performed using arterial or venous blood, although only arterial blood gas analysis evaluates lung function; the specimen may be obtained from numerous sites. Mixed venous…

  • Blood donor deferral

    The postponement or permanent exclusion of blood donation by a person suspected of having an infectious or hematological disease.  

  • Preoperative blood donation

    The collection of blood before surgery from the patient, or a cross matched donor, to be used if needed during an elective operation or during the postoperative recovery period.  

  • Blood corpuscle

    An old term for a blood cell.  

  • Blood component therapy

    Transfusion of one or more of the components of whole blood. The blood components mayhave been taken from the patient previously (autologous transfusion) or donated by someone else (homologous transfusion). Except in the case of acute hemorrhage, the transfusion of whole blood is rarely needed. Use of a component rather than whole blood permits several…

  • Unit of blood

    Approx. 1 pint (473 ml) of blood, the usual amount used in adult transfusion.    

  • Reconstituted blood

    A blood product, used in transfusion therapy composed of components of blood (packed red blood cells plus plasma), which have been recombined after their separation and storage.  

  • Predonation of blood

    The collection of a patient’s own blood before surgery, to be used if the patient needs a transfusion during or after the surgery, to reduce the possibility of needing banked blood, and with it the risk of having a transfusion reaction or contracting a transmissible infection.  

Got any book recommendations?