Dictionary > Haemolysis

Haemolysis

Definition
noun
The lysis or the breaking open of red blood cell (erythrocyte) causing the release of hemoglobin into the surrounding fluid.
Supplement
Hemolysis has several causes: examples are exposure of erythrocytes to toxins and poisons, bacterial haemolysins, immune reactions like specific complement-fixing antibodies, hypotonicity, alteration of temperature, treatments such as hemodialysis, etc.
Word origin: from the Greek hemo-, meaning blood + –lysis, meaning to break open.
Also spelled as: hemolysis.

Related forms: haemolytic (adjective).
Synonym: hematolysis.

See also: hemolysin.

Last updated on January 15th, 2021

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