BUFFY COAT Meaning and
Definition
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The "buffy coat" refers to a distinct layer of blood that forms during centrifugation and is composed of white blood cells and platelets. It appears as a thin, whitish-gray layer between the denser red blood cells at the bottom and the fluid-like plasma at the top in a sample tube.
The buffy coat is primarily comprised of the white blood cells, which include various types such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. These cells play a crucial role in the immune response and defense against infections. The platelets, which are involved in blood clotting and wound healing, make up a smaller proportion of the buffy coat.
The separation of the buffy coat is often facilitated by spinning a blood sample in a centrifuge. In medical and laboratory settings, this layer is of particular interest as it contains numerous cells and cellular components that can be further analyzed or isolated for diagnostic, research, or therapeutic purposes.
Due to its composition and importance, the buffy coat is used in various medical procedures including blood transfusions, stem cell harvesting, and testing for certain diseases or infections. It serves as a valuable source of information for healthcare professionals to assess a patient's health status or investigate potential abnormalities within the blood system.
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Crusta inflammatoria, crusta phlogistica; the upper, lighter portion of the blood-clot, occurring when coagulation is delayed so that the red corpuscles have had time to settle a little.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for BUFFY COAT
- vuffy coat
- nuffy coat
- huffy coat
- guffy coat
- byffy coat
- bhffy coat
- bjffy coat
- biffy coat
- b8ffy coat
- b7ffy coat
- budfy coat
- bucfy coat
- buvfy coat
- bugfy coat
- butfy coat
- burfy coat
- bufdy coat
- bufcy coat
- bufvy coat
- bufgy coat
Etymology of BUFFY COAT
The word buffy coat is derived from the Old French word buffe, which means blow. This term was used in the context of strikes or blows, particularly in the sense of a blow causing a bruise or swelling. In the medical field, the term buffy coat was first used in the late 19th century to describe the layer of white blood cells and platelets that separate from the red blood cells when a blood sample is centrifuged. The color and consistency of this layer were reminiscent of a bruise or a blow, hence the use of the term buffy coat.
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