Introduction to the Immune System

30 vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to the immune system, immunity, and associated disorders.

Immunity

Defence mechanisms that protect the host against infectious pathogens.

Immune Response

Coordinated reaction to pathogens or foreign substances.

Immunology

The study of immune system structure and function.

Immunodeficiency

Failure of the immune system leading to increased susceptibility to infections.

Hypersensitivity

An immune response that mistakenly targets harmless environmental antigens.

Autoimmunity

Immune response that targets self antigens.

Tumor Immunity

Immune response that targets tumors.

Vaccination

Stimulation of protective immunity to prevent disease.

Herd Immunity

Resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population.

Adaptive Immunity

Delayed but powerful immune response that is specific to a particular antigen.

Innate Immunity

Immediate, general defense mechanism present at all times.

Lymphocyte

Immune system cell crucial for adaptive immunity.

B lymphocytes

Cells that mediate humoral immunity by producing antibodies.

T lymphocytes

Cells that mediate cell-mediated immunity.

Antigen Recognition

Process that triggers clonal expansion of lymphocytes.

Immunologic Memory

Long-term immunity provided by memory lymphocytes.

Cytokines

Signaling molecules that mediate and regulate immunity.

Effector Lymphocytes

Activated progeny of naive lymphocytes that perform immune functions.

Passive Immunity

Transfer of antibodies from an immune individual to a naive individual.

Active Immunity

Humoral response induced by exposure to an antigen.

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

Molecules that present antigens on cell surfaces for T cell recognition.

Memory Lymphocytes

Cells that persist for years and respond rapidly upon re-exposure to an antigen.

Antigen-Presenting Cells

Cells that capture and present antigens to lymphocytes.

Secondary Lymphoid Organs

Sites where adaptive immune responses are initiated.

Chemokines

Small signaling proteins that guide lymphocyte migration.

Clonal Selection Hypothesis

Theory explaining how specific lymphocyte clones are activated by antigens.

Self-Tolerance

Immune system's ability to not respond to self-antigens.

Specialization of Immune Responses

Tailored immune responses against specific classes of microbes.

Homotypic Interaction

Interactions between similar types of immune cells.

Immunopathology

Disease states caused by the immune response.

T cell Activation

Process by which T cells are stimulated to respond to antigens.

Macrophages

Phagocytic cells that play a key role in the immune system.

Dendritic Cells

Antigen-presenting cells crucial for activating T lymphocytes.

Mucosal Immunity

Immune responses that occur at mucosal surfaces.