Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Obtaining blood from a vein. In the old days, this was done by incising (cutting) a vein and just letting the blood flow into a container. Today phlebotomy is done more neatly by puncturing a vein with a needle. Phlebotomy may be done in order to obtain blood for diagnostic tests or to remove blood for treatment…

Means vein. From the Greek “phleps”, vein, which came from the root “phlein”, to gush or overflow. Appears in phlebitis (inflammation of the veins), phlebotomist (a person who draws blood from veins), and phlebotomy (a venipuncture).

Inflammation of a vein. With phlebitis, there is infiltration of the walls of the vein and, usually, the formation of a clot (thrombus) in the vein (thrombophlebitis). Phlebitis in a leg, for example, causes the leg to swell with fluid (edema). Phlebitis can be superficial and not very serious, or it can be deep and carry the potential…

Procedure in which the blood is filtered, separated, and a portion retained, with the remainder being returned to the individual. There are various types of pheresis. In leukapheresis, the leukocytes (white blood cells) are removed. In plateletpheresis, the thrombocytes (blood platelets) are removed. And in plasmapheresis, the liquid part of the blood (the plasma) is removed. From the…

Pheochromocytoma is a type of neuroendocrine tumor (from chromaffin cells in adrenal glands) that results in the irregular secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine. Symptoms include hypertension, palpitations, and headaches. Most pheochromocytomas are benign; malignant pheochromocytomas are rare. Beta blockers and/or antihypertensive medications reduce symptoms. Another common treatment is surgery (tumor and/or adrenal gland removal).

The inherited inability to metabolize (process) the essential amino acid phenylalanine due to complete or near-complete deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. Newborns are screened for phenylketonuria (PKU) by a blood test, usually with the Guthrie card bloodspot obtained from a heelprick. Treatment is with a special diet low in phenylalanine. The goal is to normalize the levels of phenylalanine and tyrosine in…

An essential amino acid. (The human body cannot make it so it is essential to the diet.) Phenylalanine that is ingested is largely transformed (hydroxylated) to form the amino acid tyrosine, which is used in protein synthesis. Too little phenylalanine curbs physical and intellectual growth. Too much phenylalanine, as in phenylketonuria (PKU), is highly toxic to the brain. Phenylanine was first isolated…

One of a group of tranquilizing drugs with antipsychotic actions thought to act by blocking dopaminergic transmission (messages sent using the substance dopamine) within the brain. Examples of phenothiazines include: chlorpromazine (brand name: Thorazine), fluphenazine (Duraclon), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Etrafon and Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), promazine (Robinul and Anectine), thioridazine (Mellaril), trifluoperazine (Stelazine) and triflupromazine (Robinul).

Phenylalanine.

The hollow tube that is about 5 inches long and starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus. The pharynx serves as a vestibule or entryway for the trachea and esophagus.