🧛 Monster Medicine
Dracula has been feeling unusually tired and dizzy. His blood test shows a low red blood cell count. What condition does he have?
Anemia
Having too few healthy red blood cells reduces oxygen delivery.
A skeleton rattles through the hospital. How many bones does a typical adult human have?
206
A werewolf has an allergic reaction to pumpkins. Which chemical released by immune cells causes itching, swelling, and redness?
Histamine
Histamine contributes to many allergy symptoms.
A vampire gets a deep cut while sharpening his fangs. What should he do first to control the bleeding?
Apply firm, direct pressure with a clean cloth or gauze
Direct pressure helps control external bleeding.
A witch's heart beats faster after a jump scare. What hormone helps trigger the fight-or-flight response?
Adrenaline (epinephrine)
Adrenaline increases heart rate and prepares the body to respond.
A werewolf gets bitten by a zombie. His wound becomes infected, and his body sends cells to fight the infection. What type of blood cells fight infections?
White blood cells
White blood cells are part of the immune system and help defend against pathogens.
A witch falls from her broomstick and injures the ligaments connecting two bones at her ankle. Is this a sprain or a strain?
Sprain
Sprains injure ligaments; strains injure muscles or tendons.
A ghost feels extremely thirsty, urinates frequently, and has high blood sugar. What disease might the ghost have?
Diabetes mellitus
High blood sugar commonly causes increased thirst and urination.
A witch touches a hot cauldron and develops a painful red burn without blisters. What degree of burn is this?
First-degree (superficial) burn
Superficial burns affect the outermost skin layer.
A vampire develops yellowing of his skin and eyes after drinking a suspicious potion. What organ is commonly associated with this symptom?
Bonus: The yellowing of the vampire's skin and eyes is called jaundice. What substance builds up in the blood to cause this yellow color?
The liver
Jaundice can result from liver or bile duct problems, among other causes.
Bonus: Bilirubin
Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced when old red blood cells are broken down. Normally, the liver processes bilirubin so it can be eliminated through bile. If bilirubin builds up in the blood, it can cause jaundice.
Dracula needs a blood transfusion. Which blood type is considered the universal red blood cell donor?
O negative
O-negative red blood cells lack A, B and Rh(D) antigens.
A zombie damages his cerebellum after falling into a grave. Which abilities are most likely affected?
Balance and coordination
The cerebellum helps coordinate movement.
A witch has swollen lymph nodes while fighting an infection. What body system do lymph nodes belong to?
The lymphatic system
Lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic and immune systems.
Daily Double!
A zombie collapses and needs CPR. What is the recommended chest compression rate per minute for an adult?
Bonus: How deep should chest compressions be?
100–120 compressions per minute
Bonus: Adult compressions should generally be at least 2 inches (5 cm) deep.
A vampire's kidneys fail to filter his blood properly. What is the functional filtering unit of the kidney called?
The nephron
Nephrons filter blood and regulate water and electrolyte balance.
A vampire has pale skin, fatigue, and low iron levels. CBC revealed low hemoglobin. What mineral is essential for making hemoglobin?
Iron
Iron is needed to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen.
Frankenstein's monster needs a new heart. Which side of the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body?
The left side
The left ventricle pumps blood into the aorta.
A mummy's thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. Is this called hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism?
Hypothyroidism
Hypo- means below or too little; hyper- means above or too much.
A vampire is choking on candy and cannot breathe or speak. What is the specific name commonly used for abdominal thrusts?
Heimlich maneuver
The Heimlich maneuver refers to abdominal thrusts used to relieve severe choking.
A ghost has a resting heart rate of 120 beats per minute. What medical term describes an abnormally fast heart rate?
Tachycardia
Tachy- means fast; -cardia refers to the heart.
Dracula has a dangerously low number of platelets. What important function of his blood is impaired?
Blood clotting
Platelets help form clots and stop bleeding.
A skeleton has damaged bone marrow. What essential blood cells are produced in bone marrow?
Red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
Bone marrow contains blood-forming stem cells.
After centuries in his tomb, a mummy develops a swollen, painful joint caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals. This is the condition he is suffering from.
What is Gout?
Gout is an inflammatory arthritis caused by urate crystals.
A werewolf is severely injured and losing blood. His blood pressure drops dramatically. What is the medical term for abnormally low blood pressure?
Hypotension
Hypotension can result from severe blood loss.
Frankenstein's monster is struck by lightning. Which two ions are primarily responsible for generating electrical signals in neurons?
Sodium (Na⁺) and potassium (K⁺)
Their movement across cell membranes generates action potentials.