Term of The Day

Hemoglobin F: Unique type of hemoglobin formed during fetal development. It has a higher affinity for oxygen than adult hemoglobin and is made of 2 alpha and 2 gamma polypeptide chains, rather than the 2 alpha and 2 beta chains of adult hemoglobin. After birth, erythrocytes carrying Hemoglobin F are destroyed by the baby's liver and are replaced by erythrocytes carrying hemoglobin A.

Term of the Day

Cor Pulmonale: Right ventricular enlargement (hypertrophy, dilation, or both) secondary to pulmonary hypertension. Increased afterload (pressure in the pulmonary trunk) leads to chronic pressure overload in the right ventricle, thus increasing the work it must do. The right ventricle ultimately fails when pulmonary artery pressure equals systemic blood pressure.