Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Glossary
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E
ECM: Extracellular matrix which is the framework comprised of proteins and carbohydrates and supports the cells in any organ
Edema: Leakage of fluid from blood vessels into tissue which causes swelling
Elastin: The major protein in elastic fibers which give the lung elastic properties
Emboli: Any object found in the venous or arterial circulation that normally is not present, most commonly a blood clot
Endothelium: A thin layer of flat cells that lines blood and lymphatic vessels
Enzyme: Any of numerous proteins or conjugated proteins produced by living organisms and functioning as biochemical catalysts in living organisms
Eosinophilia: An abnormal increase in the type of a white blood cell called the eosinophil which is named after its color with special staining
Eosinophils: Type of white blood cell found in blood stream that fight infections from parasites and are involved in allergies
Epithelial cells: Cells that have a free surface on one side and are attached to tissue on the other side and contain no blood vessels such as skin or the bronchi in the lung
Epithelium: A layer composed of connected epithelial cells
Epstein-Barr virus: A member of the herpes virus family, one of the most common human viruses which causes many cases of infectious mononucleosis
Erythrocyte: A disk-shaped cell with no nucleus that carries oxygen attached to the molecule hemoglobin
Etiology: The study of why things occur
Extracellular: Located or occurring outside a cell
F
FEV1: Forced expuratory volume in the first second
Fibroblast: A cell that produces connective tissue which promotes scarring
Fibrocyte: Circulating connective tissue blood-borne cell
Fibroid: Resembling or composed of fibrous tissue
Fibrosis: The formation of fibrous tissue, as in a reparative or reactive process after tissue injury
Foci: Plural of the word focus, the region of a localized reaction to infection and tissue repair in the body
FPF: Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis
FVC: Forced vital capacity of lung is the amount of air that can be expelled from the lung as forcefully as possible after taking in a maximal breath
G
Gene: Unit of heredity in chromosome that directs the formation of proteins
Gene expression: The process by which a gene's DNA sequence is converted into the structure and functions of a cell
Genome: A complete haploid set of chromosomes
Genomics: Study of gene expression in tissues and cells
Germ: A microorganism that is an agent causing a disease
Gradulation tissue: Immature scar tissue that forms prior to the laying down of more mature scar tissue
Granulocyte: A granular leukocyte
Granuloma: A nodular collection of inflammatory cells with a well recognized architecture
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