agglutinate
ag·glu·ti·nate / əˈgloōtnˌāt/ • v. firmly stick or be stuck together to form a mass. ∎ Biol. (with reference to bacteria or red blood cells) clump together: [tr.] these strains agglutinate human red cells| [intr.] cell fragments agglutinate and form intricate meshes. ∎ [tr.] Linguistics combine (simple words or parts of words) without change of form to express compound ideas.DERIVATIVES: ag·glu·ti·na·tion / əˌgloōtnˈāshən/ n.
agglutination
agglutination The clumping together by antibodies of microscopic foreign particles, such as red blood cells or bacteria, so that they form a visible pellet-like precipitate. Agglutination is a specific reaction, i.e. a particular antigen will only clump in the presence of its specific antibody; it therefore provides a means of identifying unknown bacteria and determining blood group. When blood of incompatible blood groups (e.g. group A and group B – see ABO system) is mixed together agglutination of the red cells occurs (haemagglutination). This is due to the reaction between antibodies in the plasma (agglutinins) and agglutinogens (antigens) on the surface of the red cells.
agglutination
agglutination The clumping of cells that is caused by the reaction between antigens on their surfaces and antibodies in their external environment. See RHESUS FACTOR.
agglutination
agglutination Clumping of bacteria or erythrocytes by antibodies that react with antigens on the cell surface.
More From encyclopedia.com
Erythrocyte , e·ryth·ro·cyte / iˈri[unvoicedth]rəˌsīt/ • n. a red blood cell that (in humans) is typically a biconcave disc without a nucleus. Erythrocytes contain… reticulocyte , reticulocyte Immature precursor of the red blood cell in which the remains of the nucleus are visible as a reticulum. Very few are seen in normal blo… Red Blood Cells , Definition
Red blood cell (RBC) indices are calculations derived from the complete blood count that aid in the diagnosis and classification of anemia… hemolysis , haemolysis The breakdown of red blood cells. A normal occurrence, chiefly in the blood sinuses of the spleen, when the cells are ageing after 3–4 mon… Blood , blood, fluid pumped by the heart that circulates throughout the body via the arteries, veins, and capillaries (see circulatory system; heart). An adu… Sickle Cell Disease , Definition
Sickle cell anemia, also called sickle cell disease (SS disease), is an inherited condition caused by having abnormal hemoglobin, the prot…
About this article
Agglutination
All Sources -
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Agglutination