ANAT TEST 3

Immunity

The body's protective system involving specialized cells, tissues, organs, and vessels to defend against pathogens.

Lymphatic system

Consists of vessels, tissues, and organs that produce immune cells and has functions like fluid recovery, immunity, and lipid absorption.

Lymphatic pathway

Separate vessels from the circulatory system that transport lymph fluid, with valves for one-way flow and drainage of excess fluid.

Lymphatic cells

Include lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, and reticular cells working in protection and immunity.

Thymus

Organ where T-cells mature under thymosin influence before leaving to protect the body.

Spleen

Largest lymph organ involved in blood cell production, immune response, and filtering blood.

Pathogens

Disease-causing agents like bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms that the immune system defends against.

Nonspecific immunity

General protection mechanisms like physical barriers, chemical substances, and cellular responses present from birth.

Specific immunity

Adaptive protection with memory against specific pathogens, involving B and T cells, antibodies, and lymph nodes.

Antigen

Molecule triggering an immune response, can be non-self (pathogens) or self, prompting the body's defense mechanisms.

Antibody

Proteins produced by B-cells that recognize and neutralize antigens, aiding in the immune response.

Antibodies

Proteins in the body with unique concave regions called combining sites that can combine with specific antigens forming an antigen-antibody complex.

Humoral Immunity

Mechanism where antibodies neutralize antigens, preventing harm to the body.

Agglutination

Process where antibodies attach to multiple antigens on cells, causing them to clump together for destruction by phagocytes.

Complement Fixation

Process where antibodies change shape to expose complement binding sites, activating complement proteins to destroy antigens.

Immunoglobulin

Globular plasma protein functioning as an antibody, with types including IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE.

Lymphocytes

Cells of the immune system, including B-lymphocytes (B cells) and T-lymphocytes (T cells), originating from stem cells in red bone marrow.

T Cell Activation

Process where T cells with specific antigen receptors are activated upon contact with antigens, leading to cell-mediated immunity.

B Cell Activation

Two-stage development process in the bone marrow where B cells become activated upon contact with antigens, producing plasma cells and memory cells.

Plasma Cells

Cells that secrete antibodies into the blood, acting as "antibody factories" and living for a short period.

Memory Cells

Cells that remain in reserve and can develop into plasma cells upon re-exposure to the same antigen.