Rhesus system

English

Etymology

So named because the first identified antigen (RhD) was originally believed to be the same as one discovered in rhesus macaques.

Proper noun

Rhesus system

1. (medicine) A blood group system, the second most important after the ABO system, and important in human blood transfusion, whereby blood types are classified according to the presence ("positive") or absence ("negative") of potentially over 50 antigens, of which the most commonly referenced is RhD.

Related terms

• Rh
• RhD
• Rhesus factor
• rhesus monkey
• Rhesus negative
• Rhesus positive

See also

• blood type