thalassemia
[ thal-uh-see-mee-uh ]
/ ˌθæl əˈsi mi ə /
noun Pathology.
a hereditary form of anemia, occurring chiefly in people of Mediterranean origin, marked by the abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin and a consequent shortened life span of red blood cells.
Also called
Cooley's anemia.
Origin of thalassemia
1932; < Greek
thálass(a) sea (alluding to the Mediterranean Sea; the anemia was first reported among children in Mediterranean countries) +
-emia
Words nearby thalassemia
thalamocortical,
thalamotomy,
thalamus,
thalassa,
thalassaemia,
thalassemia,
thalassemia major,
thalassic,
thalasso-,
thalassocracy,
thalassocrat
Medical definitions for thalassemia
thalassemia
[ thăl′ə-sē′mē-ə ]
n.
Any of a group of inherited forms of anemia occurring chiefly among people of Mediterranean descent, caused by faulty synthesis of part of the hemoglobin molecule.
Mediterranean anemia
Scientific definitions for thalassemia
thalassemia
[ thăl′ə-sē′mē-ə ]
Any of a group of inherited forms of anemia occurring chiefly among people of Mediterranean descent, caused by faulty synthesis of part of the hemoglobin molecule