1.27. Blood Diseases http://www.ck12.org
Blood Cancer
Leukemiais a cancer of the blood or bone marrow. It is characterized by an abnormal production of blood cells,
usually white blood cells.Lymphomais a cancer of a type of white blood cell calledlymphocytes.There are many
types of lymphoma.
Hemophilia
Hemophiliais the name of a group of hereditary diseases that affect the body’s ability to control blood clotting.
Hemophilia is caused by a lack of clotting factors in the blood. Since people with hemophilia cannot produce clots,
any cut can put a person at risk of bleeding to death. The risk of internal bleeding is also increased in hemophilia,
especially into muscles and joints.
Vocabulary
- anemia: Disease that occurs when there is not enough hemoglobin in the blood, usually because of a lack of
iron. - hemoglobin: Blood protein that normally carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.
- hemophilia: Group of hereditary diseases that affect the body’s ability to control blood clotting.
- leukemia: Cancer of the blood or bone marrow.
- lymphoma: Cancer in a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes.
- sickle-cell anemia: Inherited blood disease that is caused by abnormally-shaped blood protein, hemoglobin.
Summary
- Blood diseases can affect red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets.
- Blood diseases include sickle-cell anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, and hemophilia.
Practice
Use the resources below to answer the questions that follow.
- Aplastic Anemiaat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8-jx1dtg0U (2:41)
MEDIA
Click image to the left for more content.- What causes aplastic anemia? Why is it considered an autoimmune disease?
- Where are red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets formed? Which of these cells are at reduced levels
in someone with aplastic anemia? - How does "rebooting" the immune system treat aplastic anemia?
- Blood Cancersat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNz8YCMJJaY (6:24)