Serum (Vocabulary: Science Terms)

SERUM (Vocabulary: Science Terms)

Many medical terms we use are specific. But this one, serum (plural sera) can mean any clear or watery bodily fluid--in humans, animals, or even plants. These may also be called serous fluids. (The adjective is also seen in phrases like serous discharge or serous drainage.) Some specific sera:

• blood serum: the fluid component of blood plasma without clotting factors. Blood serum carries, but does not include, white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, and clotting factors.
• antiserum (also called immune serum) is a blood serum that contain antibodies.
• truth serum is a largely unproven substance, including certain drugs, that may compel subjects to tell the truth, but more likely just reduces inhibitions.

The study of sera is called serology, and the practitioner is a serologist.

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(Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons; CTTO)