Glossary

Tissue that connects organs or other structures within the body. It supports, attaches and encloses organs, fills the spaces between them, and forms ligaments and tendons.

In the clinical laboratory, pertaining to samples taken at a time when a patient is recovering from a disease or condition

Literally, yellow body in the ovary; the progesterone-producing tissue that remains after an egg is releaed from the ovary

Also known as: bronchiolitis
Inflamed bronchioles, the smaller airway passages/branches of the lower respiratory tract

A component prepared from donated blood; after freezing plasma and thawing, a precipitate that remains solid. It is rich in fibrinogen and Factor VIII.

Also known as: Cerebrospinal Fluid

Normally clear liquid, produced in the ventricles of the brain, that surrounds the brain and spinal cord

Deliberate growing of cells, especially microorganisms, in a solid or liquid medium (e.g. agar, gelatin), as of bacteria in a Petri dish

1) a hollow space or fluid-filled cavity surrounded by a distinct lining that develops abnormally in tissue or in an organ in the body, such as "ovarian cyst"

2) a cellular form of a parasite that has a thick cell wall, which allows for survival of the parasite in the environment and transmission into an uninfected host

one of a group of proteins released by cells of the immune system that carry signals to neighboring cells to regulate and/or promote an immune response

The microscopic assessment of individual cells or groups of cells that are either shed in body fluids or collected by smears and scrapings (e.g., the Pap smear) or by aspiration from deeper tissues through a very fine needle

The living substance within a cell that is located outside of the nucleus; it is a semi-fluid substance consisting of proteins, fat and other molecules