Chapter 14: The Language of Medicine (Terms and Study Terms)

immun/o

protection

lymph/o

lymph

lymphaden/o

lymph node (gland)

splen/o

spleen

thym/o

thymus gland

tox/o

poison

ana-

again, anew

inter-

between

adaptive immunity

Ability to recognize and remember specific antigens and attack them.

adenoids

Mass of lymphatic tissue in the nasopharynx.

antibody

Protein produced by B cells to destroy antigens.

antigen

Foreign substance that triggers an immune response.

axillary nodes

Lymph nodes in the armpit.

B cell (B lymphocyte)

Lymphocyte that matures into a plasma cell and produces antibodies.

cell-mediated immunity

T-cell immunity that destroys antigens.

cervical nodes

Lymph nodes in the neck.

complement system

Group of blood proteins that help antibodies destroy targets.

cytokines

Proteins that help destroy antigens and regulate the immune response.

cytotoxic T cell

T cell (CD8+) that directly kills antigens.

dendritic cell

Antigen-presenting cell that activates T and B cells.

helper T cell

T cell (CD4+) that helps B cells and activates T cells.

humoral immunity

B-cell immunity that produces antibodies.

immunity

Body's ability to resist disease-causing organisms and toxins.

immunoglobulins

Antibodies (IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM, IgD).

immunotherapy

Use of immune cells, antibodies, or vaccines to treat disease.

inguinal nodes

Lymph nodes in the groin.

interferons

Cytokines that help regulate the immune response.

interleukins

Cytokines that stimulate growth of B and T lymphocytes.

interstitial fluid

Fluid between cells that becomes lymph.

lymph

Clear fluid that circulates in lymphatic vessels.

lymph capillaries

Smallest lymphatic vessels.

lymph node

Lymphatic tissue containing infection-fighting cells.

lymphoid organs

Organs such as lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus.

lymph vessel

Vessel that carries lymph.

macrophage

Large phagocyte that engulfs foreign material.

mediastinal nodes

Lymph nodes between the lungs.

mesenteric nodes

Lymph nodes in the intestinal region.

monoclonal antibody

Laboratory-made antibody used to attack antigens.

natural immunity

Inborn, nonspecific protection against infection.

paraaortic nodes

Lymph nodes near the aorta.

plasma cell

Mature B cell that secretes antibodies.

right lymphatic duct

Lymph vessel that drains the upper right side of the body.

spleen

Organ that destroys old red blood cells, stores blood, and helps immunity.

suppressor T cell

Regulatory T cell (Treg) that suppresses immune activity.

T cell (T lymphocyte)

Lymphocyte that attacks antigens or releases cytokines.

thoracic duct

Main lymphatic vessel that drains most of the body.

thymus gland

Lymphoid organ where T cells mature.

tolerance

Ability to recognize the body's own cells as self.

tonsils

Lymphatic tissue at the back of the throat.

toxin

Poison produced by bacteria, animals, or plants.

vaccination

Exposure to an antigen to produce immunity.

vaccine

Weakened or dead antigen that stimulates antibody production.

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Disease caused by HIV that weakens the immune system.

candidiasis

Fungal infection caused by Candida.

cryptococcal infection (Crypto)

Fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus.

cryptosporidiosis

Parasitic infection caused by Cryptosporidium.

cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

Viral infection that commonly affects immunocompromised people.

herpes simplex

Viral infection causing blisters.

histoplasmosis (Histo)

Fungal infection from Histoplasma.

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) complex infection

Bacterial infection seen in immunocompromised patients.

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)

Lung infection caused by Pneumocystis.

toxoplasmosis (Toxo)

Parasitic infection affecting the central nervous system.

tuberculosis (TB)

Bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

allergy

Hypersensitivity reaction to an antigen.

lymphoma

Cancer of lymph nodes and lymph tissue.

multiple myeloma

Cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow.

thymoma

Tumor of the thymus gland.

allergen

Substance that triggers an allergic reaction.

anaphylaxis

Severe, life-threatening allergic reaction.

atopy

Inherited tendency to develop allergies.

CD4+ cells

Helper T cells targeted by HIV.

Hodgkin lymphoma

Lymphoid cancer with Reed-Sternberg cells.

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

Virus that causes AIDS.

Kaposi sarcoma

Cancer associated with AIDS.

non-Hodgkin lymphomas

Group of cancers of lymphoid tissue.

opportunistic infections

Infections that occur because HIV weakens immunity.

protease inhibitor

Drug that blocks HIV protease.

reverse transcriptase inhibitor (RTI)

Drug that blocks HIV reverse transcriptase.

wasting syndrome

Weight loss and muscle weakness associated with AIDS.

CD4+ cell count

Test that measures helper T cells in the blood.

ELISA

Screening test for anti-HIV antibodies.

immunoelectrophoresis

Test that separates immunoglobulins.

viral load test

Test that measures the amount of HIV in the blood.

computed tomography (CT) scan

X-ray imaging that produces cross-sectional images.

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

APC

antigen-presenting cell

CAR-T cells

chimeric antigen receptors; activated to fight cancer

CD4+ cell

helper T cell

CD8+ cell

cytotoxic T cell

CMV

cytomegalovirus

Crypto

Cryptococcus infection

ELISA

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

G-CSF

granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

GM-CSF

granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

HAART

highly active antiretroviral therapy

Histo

histoplasmosis

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

HSV

herpes simplex virus

IEC

immunoeffector cells

IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM

immunoglobulins