HEMAGGLUTINATION Meaning and
Definition
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Hemagglutination is a term used in hematology and virology to describe a specific type of agglutination or clumping of red blood cells (RBCs), which occurs due to the interaction between certain substances (e.g., antibodies or viruses) and the surface molecules present on the RBCs. Derived from the words "hema" meaning blood, and "agglutination" referring to the clumping together of particles, hemagglutination involves the formation of visible aggregates or clots of RBCs in a liquid medium.
In immunology, hemagglutination is commonly observed when an antigen (such as a virus, bacteria, or even a specific protein) interacts with its corresponding antibody, causing cross-linking or bridging between RBCs. This interaction leads to the formation of lattice-like structures, resulting in the clumping of RBCs and the formation of a visible precipitate. The degree of agglutination can vary, ranging from partial clumping to complete clot formation, depending on the strength of the antigen-antibody reaction.
Hemagglutination is also a phenomenon typically used in laboratory procedures to detect the presence of specific antibodies or viruses in a patient's blood sample. Techniques like hemagglutination inhibition assays and hemagglutination assays are employed to identify and measure the quantity of antibodies or viruses present in the serum. Hemagglutination is particularly useful in diagnosing viral infections, studying the immune response, blood typing, and determining the effectiveness of vaccines.
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The clumping of red blood-cells.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for HEMAGGLUTINATION
- gemagglutination
- bemagglutination
- nemagglutination
- jemagglutination
- uemagglutination
- yemagglutination
- hwmagglutination
- hsmagglutination
- hdmagglutination
- hrmagglutination
- h4magglutination
- h3magglutination
- henagglutination
- hekagglutination
- hejagglutination
- hemzgglutination
- hemsgglutination
- hemwgglutination
- hemqgglutination
Etymology of HEMAGGLUTINATION
The word "hemagglutination" is derived from the combination of two roots:
1. "Hema/haema" is derived from the Greek word "haima", which means "blood". It is often used to refer to various aspects of blood.
2. "Agglutination" comes from the Latin word "agglutinare", which means "to glue together". In the context of biology and medicine, it refers to the clumping or binding together of cells or particles.
Therefore, "hemagglutination" specifically refers to the clumping or agglutination of red blood cells. It is a process commonly observed in blood typing and certain viral infections.
Similar spelling words for HEMAGGLUTINATION
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