Emergency: 119
AMDA-IMIC

Blood and immune system

Sangre y sistema inmunitario

This page lists the 50 terms of the US medical glossary that belong to this area, grouped by kind. Each line gives the English term, its Spanish equivalent and a one-line definition; the term's own page adds seven more languages, example sentences for an appointment and its sources. Terms are placed in an area by the MedlinePlus health-topic group of the source each entry cites.

Tests (11)

Allergy Testing — Pruebas de alergia
Allergy testing identifies which substances trigger an allergic reaction in your body.
Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) — Panel metabólico básico
A basic metabolic panel (BMP) is a blood test that checks eight key substances in your blood.
Bone Marrow Biopsy — Biopsia de médula ósea
A bone marrow biopsy removes a small core of bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside large bones that produces blood cells — for laboratory analysis.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) — Biometría hemática completa
A complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most common blood tests ordered by doctors.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) — Panel metabólico completo
A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) includes all the tests in the basic metabolic panel plus six additional liver-function markers: total protein, albumin, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) — Velocidad de sedimentación globular
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a blood test that indirectly measures inflammation in your body.
Fasting Blood Glucose — Glucosa en ayunas
A fasting blood glucose test measures the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood after you have not eaten for at least eight hours.
Ferritin Test — Prueba de ferritina
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside your cells and releases it when your body needs it.
Prothrombin Time / INR (PT/INR) — Tiempo de protrombina / INR
The prothrombin time (PT) test measures how long it takes your blood to clot.
Rapid Strep Test — Prueba rápida de estreptococo
A rapid strep test detects group A Streptococcus bacteria in the throat in about five to ten minutes.
Throat Culture — Cultivo de garganta
A throat culture is a laboratory test that identifies bacteria or other organisms causing a throat infection.

Conditions (11)

Anemia — Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body's tissues.
Hemophilia — Hemofilia
Hemophilia is a rare genetic bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly because it is missing or has low levels of certain clotting factors (factor VIII in hemophilia A, factor IX in hemophilia B).
HIV/AIDS — VIH/SIDA
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, attacks the immune system and can lead to AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the most advanced stage of HIV infection.
Iron Deficiency Anemia — Anemia por deficiencia de hierro
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia, occurring when the body does not have enough iron to make adequate hemoglobin.
Leukemia — Leucemia
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that causes the body to produce abnormal white blood cells.
Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) — Lupus (Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico)
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissue throughout the body, causing widespread inflammation.
Lymphoma — Linfoma
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune system.
Pernicious Anemia — Anemia perniciosa
Pernicious anemia is a type of anemia caused by the body's inability to absorb vitamin B12 properly.
Polycythemia — Policitemia
Polycythemia is a condition in which the body produces too many red blood cells, making the blood thicker than normal.
Sickle Cell Disease — Enfermedad de células falciformes
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells form an abnormal crescent or sickle shape instead of the normal round shape.
Thrombocytopenia — Trombocitopenia
Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which the blood has a lower-than-normal number of platelets, the cells that help blood clot.

Anatomy (10)

Bone Marrow — Médula ósea
Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue found inside certain bones, such as the hips, thighs, and chest.
Lymph Node — Ganglio linfático
Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are part of the body's immune system.
Lymphocytes — Linfocitos
Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that plays a central role in your immune system.
Neutrophils — Neutrófilos
Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell, making up about 50 to 70 percent of all white blood cells.
Plasma — Plasma
Plasma is the liquid portion of your blood, making up about 55 percent of total blood volume.
Platelets — Plaquetas
Platelets are tiny, disc-shaped cell fragments in the blood that play a critical role in clotting.
Red Blood Cells — Glóbulos rojos
Red blood cells are the most common type of blood cell in the body.
Spleen — Bazo
The spleen is a fist-sized organ in the upper left part of the abdomen, tucked under the rib cage next to the stomach.
Tonsils — Amígdalas
The tonsils are two oval-shaped masses of lymphoid tissue located at the back of the throat, one on each side.
White Blood Cells — Glóbulos blancos
White blood cells are the cells of the immune system that protect your body against infection and disease.

Procedures (6)

Blood Transfusion — Transfusión de sangre
A blood transfusion is a medical procedure in which donated blood or blood components such as red blood cells, platelets, or plasma are given through an intravenous (IV) line into a patient's vein.
Bone Marrow Transplant — Trasplante de médula ósea
A bone marrow transplant, also called a stem cell transplant, replaces diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy blood-forming stem cells.
Immunization — Inmunización
Immunization is the process of protecting a person against an infectious disease, most commonly by administering a vaccine.
Lymph Node Dissection — Disección de ganglios linfáticos
Lymph node dissection is a surgical procedure to remove lymph nodes from a region of the body to check whether cancer has spread.
Tonsillectomy — Amigdalectomía
A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove the tonsils, two oval-shaped glands located at the back of the throat.
Vaccination — Vacunación
Vaccination refers specifically to the act of receiving a vaccine — a biological preparation that induces immunity to a particular infectious disease.

Medications (3)

Anticoagulant — Anticoagulante
Anticoagulants, commonly called blood thinners, are medications that prevent blood clots from forming or growing.
Antihistamine — Antihistamínico
Antihistamines block histamine, a chemical the body releases during an allergic reaction.
Contraindication — Contraindicación
A contraindication is a medical reason why a specific drug should not be used in a particular patient because the risk of harm outweighs the benefit.

Maternity and children (3)

Childhood Vaccines — Vacunas infantiles
Childhood vaccines are shots given to babies and children to protect them from serious infectious diseases by training the immune system to recognize and fight specific germs.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease — Enfermedad mano-pie-boca
Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common viral illness caused by enteroviruses, most often Coxsackievirus A16.
Immunization Schedule — Calendario de vacunación
The immunization schedule is the official timetable from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that tells parents when to give each vaccine to their child.

Symptoms (3)

Easy Bleeding — Sangrado fácil
Easy bleeding means bleeding more than expected from minor cuts, dental procedures, or small injuries, or bleeding that is hard to stop.
Lymph Node Swelling — Inflamación de los ganglios linfáticos
Lymph nodes are small glands found in the neck, armpits, and groin that help fight infection.
Sneezing — Estornudos
Sneezing is a reflex that forcefully expels air through the nose and mouth to clear irritants from the nasal passages.

Emergency care (1)

Epinephrine Auto-Injector — Autoinyector de epinefrina
An epinephrine auto-injector (brand name EpiPen) is a pre-filled, spring-loaded device used to inject epinephrine (adrenaline) into the outer thigh muscle during a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Clinical terms (1)

Primary Care Provider — Proveedor de Atención Primaria
A primary care provider (PCP) is the main clinician responsible for your routine and preventive healthcare.

Departments (1)

Urgent Care Center — Centro de Atención Urgente
An urgent care center is a walk-in medical facility for conditions that need prompt attention but are not life-threatening emergencies.

Other areas of the glossary

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This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice. Last reviewed: October 7, 2026