This is a list of unfamiliar terms that may be of interest to the Community.
Acute: Sudden onset of symptoms or disease.
Alytos: Greek term meaning "undissolved", describing the remarkable physical preservation of a vampire or revnant.
Anemia: A medical condition involving the reduction of red blood cells or their oxygen-carrying pigment, hemoglobin.
Antibody: A protein substance normally formed by the body to help defend it against disease. Excessive production of an abnormal antibody can cause disease.
Antigen: A protein that prompts the body to produce antibodies.
Basophils: A type of white blood cell that plays a special role in allergic reactions.
B-Lymphocytes: A type of lymphocyte, or white blood cell, used by the immune system. B-cells secrete antibodies into the body fluid to fight foreign substances that cause infections, disease, or poisoning.
Bhandara: Small shrines found in parts of India for the worship of a number of vampire species. They are places where the vampire can dwell and where sacrifices or oblations can be made to keep them placated. While varying in shape, they are designed so that the creature may rest without touching the ground, because they are forbidden to touch the sacred earth.
Biological Therapy: A treatment that stimulates the body's own immune system to fight cancer or blood disorders.
Blood Count: A blood test used to determine the number of the various types of blood cells.
Blood Transfusions: Infusion of blood or blood components directly into the bloodstream to remedy blood loss or to treat anemia.
Blood-clotting Factors: Components of plasma that are involved in the clotting of blood.
Bone Marrow: The spongy substance in the inner cavity of bone which produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Bone Marrow Biopsy: A test where a needle is inserted into the bone of the hip or sternum (breastbone) to obtain a marrow sample for microscopic study and examination.
Eosinophils: A type of white blood cell that plays a role in allergic reactions to foreign substances.
Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells): The cells that carry oxygen.
Extramedullary Hematopoiesis: Formation of blood cells outside of the bone marrow, such as in the spleen.
Hematologist: A doctor who specializes in the study of blood and bone marrow.
Hematomania: A psychological fixation on blood from which an individual derives satisfaction of a kind of erotic bloodlust. Such forms of gratification, called also hematodipsia, are generally rare but constitute a condition for which there are numerous historical and modern examples.
Immune System: A complex group of cells and substances that protect the body from infection and disease.
Inovercy: A Russian word meaning a follower of a different faith or creed, specifically someone who does not adhere to the teachings of the Russian Orthodox church and is thus doomed to come back as a vampire after death.
Leukocytes: White blood cells.
Lymphocytes: A type of white blood cell. Three important kinds of lymphocytes are T-cells, B-cells, and Natural Killer Cells. T-cells attack and destroy virus-infected cells, foreign tissue and cancer cells; B-cells produce antibodies that help destroy foreign substances; Natural Killer cells destroy cancer cells and virus-infected cells.
Manducation: A technical term meaning "eating", referring to a corpse actually eating or chewing food or its own shroud, held by experts of the 17th and 18th centuries as proof concerning the existence and the unwholesome activities of the undead.
Microangiopathy: The clotting of blood in the small blood vessels of organs.
Monocytes: A type of white blood cell.
Necrophagism: Also necrophagy, a phychological term used to describe the consumption of peices of the corpse of someone who has been terribly mutilated. Done often while in a state of frenzy, this deviant act can be differentiated from cannibalism in that it is most often directed to a specific organ or body part of a dead person, the victim normally having been murdered only moments before.
Necrophilia: A severe mental disorder and sexual deviation involving the uncontrollable desire to engage in assorted sexual activities with a cadaver, normally preformed by a male with an obsessive attitude about young women, toward whom he has a severe inferiority complex. The necrophiliac very closely monitors the obituaries and then digs up reciently deceased women or breaks into their tombs. This deviance has been noted throughout history, the earliest evidence dates back to the 5th century BCE.
Neutrophils: A mature white blood cell that fights bacterial infections. Neutrophils are also called segmented neutrophils or segs.
Petechiae: Small areas of pinpoint bleeding on the skin. This can be due to low platelet counts.
Phlebotomy: The removal of blood from a vein.
Plasma Exchange: Also called plasmapheresis. A process that removes plasma from the blood and replaces it with a substitute.
Plasmapheresis (Plasma Exchange): A process that removes plasma from the blood and replaces it with a substitute.
Plateletpheresis: A blood bank procedure that removes platelets from the blood.
Platelets (Thrombocytes): A blood cell that assists in blood clotting. Patients are at risk to bleed if the platelet count is less than 50,000.
Porphyria: The name given to several diseases that are caused by a metabolic disorder from a deficiency in the enzyme needed for synthesis of heme (proteins function as oxygen carriers during respiration). It is very rare, manifesting itself in one of a number of disorders. Victims also suffer from severe photosensitivity, lack of pigmentation, chemical imbalances, and other potentially severe conditions. The term is derived from the Greek for 'purple', as purple urine is one of the characteristics. The liquid turns dark red after standing in the light, and under ultraviolet light becomes florescent.
Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes): The blood cells that carry oxygen and are responsible for the red color of the blood.
Sanguisuga: A Latin term meaning "bloodsucking" that was used in the Vulgate to explain a passage in the book of Proverbs (30:15) making reference to a bloodsucking demon, the aluga.
Thrombocytes (Platelets): Cells used to make the blood clot.
Ultraviolet Light: Light that is beyond the visible spectrum.
White Blood Cells: Blood cells used by the immune system to fight bacteria and viruses.