In this chapter, we will first consider diseases of red cells. By far, the most common and important are the anemias, red cell deficiency states that usually have a nonneoplastic basis. We will then complete our review of blood diseases…
The components of the hematopoietic system have been traditionally divided into the myeloid tissues, which include the bone marrow and the cells derived from it (e.g., red cells, platelets, granulocytes, and monocytes), and the lymphoid tissues, consisting of the thymus,…
The human heart is a remarkably efficient, durable, and reliable pump, propelling more than 7500 L of blood through the body each day, and beating more than 40 million times a year—the wellspring for tissue oxygenation, nutrition, and waste removal. In…
Vascular pathology is responsible for more morbidity and mortality than any other category of human disease. Although the most clinically significant lesions involve arteries, venous disorders are not inconsequential. Two principal mechanisms underlie vascular disease: Narrowing (stenosis) or complete obstruction…
Children are not merely little adults, and their diseases are not merely variants of adult diseases. Many childhood conditions are unique to, or at least take distinctive forms in, this stage of life and so are discussed separately in this…
Many diseases are caused or influenced by environmental factors. Broadly defined, the term environment encompasses the various indoor, outdoor, and occupational settings in which human beings live and work. In each of these settings, the air people breathe, the food…
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States; only cardiovascular diseases exact a higher toll. Even more agonizing than the mortality rate is the emotional and physical suffering inflicted by cancers. Patients and the public often…
The immune system is vital for survival because it protects us from infectious pathogens that abound in the environment and from the development of cancer. Predictably, immune deficiencies render individuals easy prey to infections and increase the incidence of certain…
Genes and Human Diseases In Chapter 1 , we discussed the architecture of the normal human genome. Here we build on that knowledge to discuss the genetic basis of human diseases. Genetic disorders are far more common than is widely…
The health of cells and tissues depends on the circulation of blood, which delivers oxygen and nutrients and removes wastes generated by cellular metabolism. Under normal conditions, as blood passes through capillary beds, proteins in the plasma are retained within…