RH NEGATIVE Meaning and
Definition
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Rh negative refers to the absence of a specific antigen, known as the Rh factor, from an individual's blood. The Rh factor is a protein that is found on the surface of red blood cells. If the antigen is present, the blood type is considered Rh positive, while its absence denotes Rh negative blood type.
When an Rh negative individual receives blood from an Rh positive donor, their immune system may produce antibodies against the Rh factor. This can potentially create complications in cases such as blood transfusions or during pregnancy, especially when an Rh negative woman carries an Rh positive fetus. This scenario can lead to Rh sensitization, a condition where the mother's immune system starts to attack the blood cells of the Rh positive fetus, considering them foreign and dangerous.
Rh negative blood is relatively rare, with only around 15% of the global population possessing this blood type. It is important for medical professionals to identify a person's Rh status to prevent adverse reactions during medical procedures or during pregnancy, ensuring appropriate precautions are taken, especially for Rh negative individuals who may need Rh immunoglobulin injections to prevent Rh sensitization.
Although the Rh factor does not directly affect a person's health, Rh negative blood type does possess a higher risk of complications in certain situations, necessitating close monitoring and preventive measures when needed.
Common Misspellings for RH NEGATIVE
- eh negative
- dh negative
- fh negative
- th negative
- 5h negative
- 4h negative
- rg negative
- rb negative
- rn negative
- rj negative
- ru negative
- ry negative
- rh begative
- rh megative
- rh jegative
- rh hegative
- rh nwgative
- rh nsgative
- rh ndgative
- rh nrgative
- rhnegative
Etymology of RH NEGATIVE
The term "Rh negative" refers to the Rh blood group system, which identifies the presence or absence of a specific antigen called the Rh factor on the surface of red blood cells. The etymology of the term "Rh" dates back to its discovery in the mid-20th century. It is an abbreviation for Rhesus, referring to the Rhesus monkey.
In 1939, the scientist Karl Landsteiner and his colleagues discovered the first human blood antigen, which they named Rh (for "Rhesus") after their experiments involving Rhesus monkeys. They found that some individuals had this antigen on their red blood cells (Rh positive), while others did not (Rh negative). The term "Rh negative" was later adopted to describe individuals lacking the Rh factor.
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