| blast cell | <haematology> A immature cell of a proliferative compartment in a cell lineage that normally represent up to 5% of the cells in the bone marrow. An over-production of blasts in the marrow is characteristic of leukaemia when the blast cells often spill out into the blood stream. (17 Mar 1998) |
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| blast | 1. <biology, suffix> A suffix or terminal formative, used principally in biological terms, and signifying growth or formation. An immature precursor cell of the type indicated by the preceding word, for example; bioblast, epiblast, mesoblast, etc. 2. A violent gust of wind. A forcible stream of air from an orifice, as from a bellows, the mouth, etc. Hence: The continuous blowing to which one charge of ore or metal is subjected in a furnace; as, to melt so many tons of iron at a blast. 3. The terms hot blast and cold blast are employed to designate whether the current is heated or not heated before entering the furnace. A blast furnace is said to be in blast while it is in operation, and out of blast when not in use. 4. <veterinary> A flatulent disease of sheep. See: blast cell, blastema. Origin: G. Blastos, germ (20 Jun 2000) |
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| blast crisis | <haematology> In patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia, the progression of the diseases to an acute advanced phase, evidenced by an increased number of immature white blood cells in the circulating blood. Sometimes loosely used to describe a rapid increase in the white blood cell count of any leukaemic patient. (17 Mar 1998) |
| blast injuries | Injuries resulting when a person is struck by particles impelled with violent force from an explosion. Blast causes pulmonary concussion and haemorrhage, laceration of other thoracic and abdominal viscera, ruptured ear drums, and minor effects in the central nevous system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blast injury | Tearing of lung tissue or rupture of abdominal viscera without external injury, as by the force of an explosion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| blast phase | Refers to advanced chronic myelogenous leukaemia. In this phase, the number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is extremely high. Also called blast crisis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blast transformation | <haematology> The morphological and biochemical changes in lymphocytes, both B and T, on exposure to antigen or to a mitogen. The cells appear to move from G0 to G1 stage of the cell cycle. They usually enlarge and proceed to S phase and mitosis later. The process probably involves receptor cross linking on the plasma membrane. (18 Nov 1997) |
| T-cell-rich, B-cell lymphoma | <tumour> A B-cell lymphoma in which more than 90% of the cells are of T-cell origin, masking the large cells that form the neoplastic B-cell component. See: adult T-cell lymphoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| absorption cell | A small glass chamber with parallel sides, in which absorption spectra of solutions can be obtained. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acid cell | One of the cell's of the gastric glands; it lies upon the basement membrane, covered by the chief cell's, and secretes hydrochloric acid that reaches the lumen of the gland through fine intracellular and intercellular canals (canaliculi). Synonym: acid cell, oxyntic cell. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acidophil cell | A cell whose cytoplasm or its granules stain with acid dyes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acinar cell | Any secreting cell lining an acinus, especially applied to the cell's of the pancreas that furnish pancreatic juice and enzymes to distinguish them from the cell's of ducts and the islets of Langerhans. Synonym: acinous cell. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acinar cell tumour | A solid and cystic tumour of the pancreas, occurring in young women; tumour cells contain zymogen granules. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acinic cell adenocarcinoma | <tumour> An adenocarcinoma arising from secreting cells of a racemose gland, particularly the salivary glands. Synonym: acinar carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, acinose carcinoma, acinous carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acinic cell carcinoma | <tumour> An adenocarcinoma arising from secreting cells of a racemose gland, particularly the salivary glands. Synonym: acinar carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, acinose carcinoma, acinous carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acinous cell | Any secreting cell lining an acinus, especially applied to the cell's of the pancreas that furnish pancreatic juice and enzymes to distinguish them from the cell's of ducts and the islets of Langerhans. Synonym: acinous cell. (05 Mar 2000) |