Blood, Immune Response, and Lymphatic System

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to the functions and components of blood, the immune response, and the lymphatic system.

Blood

An atypical connective tissue that circulates throughout the blood vessels of the body.

Plasma

The largest component of blood, a yellowish liquid that is 90% water.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells that transport oxygen from the lungs to body cells.

Leukocytes

White blood cells that defend the body against disease.

Platelets

Cell fragments that help stop blood loss from damaged vessels.

Hemocytoblasts

Stem cells in red bone marrow that differentiate into blood cells.

Erythropoietin

The hormone that stimulates red blood cell production.

Thrombopoietin

The hormone that causes stem cells to differentiate into megakaryocytes.

Granulocytes

A category of white blood cells that contain granules in their cytoplasm.

Agranulocytes

White blood cells that lack visible cytoplasmic granules.

Neutrophils

Granulocytes that consume bacteria through phagocytosis.

Eosinophils

Granulocytes that destroy parasites and combat the effects of histamine.

Basophils

Granulocytes involved in controlling allergic reactions.

Monocytes

A type of agranulocyte that differentiates into macrophages.

Lymphocytes

A type of agranulocyte involved in immune responses.

B cells

Lymphocytes that produce antibodies.

T cells

Lymphocytes that target viruses, fungi, and cancer cells.

Natural Killer Cells

Lymphocytes that attack and destroy foreign microbes.

Macrophages

Large phagocytic cells that defend the body from pathogens.

Phagocytosis

The process by which certain white blood cells consume pathogens.

Clotting factors

Blood proteins that form fibrin threads to stop bleeding.

Spleen

An organ that filters blood and produces lymphocytes.

Lymphatic System

A network that protects the body by removing pathogens.

Lymphatic Capillaries

Small vessels that collect interstitial fluid and filter it.

Thymus

An organ where T cells mature.

Lymph nodes

Capsules of tissue that filter lymph and contain lymphocytes.

Interstitial Fluid

Fluid that surrounds cells and becomes lymph as it enters lymphatic vessels.

Cisterna Chyli

A sac under the diaphragm where the thoracic duct begins.

Thoracic Duct

The left lymphatic duct that collects lymph from the lower body and left side.

Right Lymphatic Duct

Collects lymph from the right upper body.

Lymph Trunks

Major lymphatic vessels that empty into the thoracic and right lymphatic ducts.

Tissue Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions by plasma proteins.

Dendritic Cells

Cells that present antigens and activate T cells.

Inflammation

The body's response to injury that increases blood flow and white blood cell activity.

Memory B Cells

Cells that remain in the body to prepare for future infections.

Cytokines

Chemical messengers that mediate and regulate immunity and inflammation.

Adaptive Immunity

The immune response that adapts and targets specific pathogens.

Antigen

A substance that triggers an immune response.

Vasculature

The system of blood vessels that transport blood throughout the body.

Homeostasis

The process of maintaining a stable internal environment.

Chemotaxis

The movement of cells in response to chemical signals.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels to increase blood flow.

Lymphocyte Activation

The process by which lymphocytes are stimulated to respond to antigens.

Bacterial Phagocytosis

The ingestion and destruction of bacteria by phagocytic cells.

Stem Cell Differentiation

The process by which stem cells develop into specialized blood cells.

Immune Surveillance

The monitoring of the body for abnormal cells.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease.

Reticular Tissue

A type of connective tissue found in lymph nodes and the spleen.

Antibody

A protein produced by B cells that binds to specific antigens.