Erythrocythemia

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A condition in which the body produces an excessive number of red blood cells, leading to increased oxygen-carrying capacity and thicker blood
2. A medical disorder characterized by an elevated red blood cell count that can result in complications such as blood clots and tissue hypoxia
3. A hematologic state marked by surplus red blood cells circulating in the bloodstream, potentially causing viscosity and circulatory problems

Etymology: Erythrocythemia is a compound built from two Greek-derived parts: "erythro-", from Greek "erythros" meaning red, and "cyte", from Greek "kytos" meaning hollow vessel or cell, which in modern science denotes a cell. The final element "-emia" comes from Greek "haima" meaning blood, so the whole term literally points to a condition of red cells in the blood. The word is built on "erythrocyte", the standard name for a red blood cell, with "-emia" attached, and it follows the pattern of "polycythemia", a condition of excess blood cells in general. The "th" sound in the middle is a euphonic addition, which makes the word easier to pronounce, and it is what separates the spelling from a plain "erythrocytemia". The word is therefore a modern scientific coinage, formed from classical Greek roots rather than used by ancient writers. Its meaning is the most direct in the family: a state of increased red blood cells.

Synonyms: polycythemia, erythrocytosis