AP2 - Unit 2 Vocab

Anatomy and Physiology II - Chapters 20, 21, & 22 Vocabulary

Active Immunity

Immunity built up by the body's immune system in response to exposure to pathogens or vaccines, resulting in the production of memory cells and antibodies.

Acute Inflammation

The body’s rapid response to injury or infection, characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain. This process helps to eliminate pathogens and begin repair.

Adaptive Immune Response

A specific immune response where the body recognizes and targets specific pathogens through the activation of B-cells, T-cells, and antibodies. It results in the formation of memory cells, allowing for a quicker response to future infections.

Antibody

A protein released by mature B-cells, plasma cells, which binds to specific antigens. An immunoglobulin.

Afferent Lymphatic Vessels

Vessels that carry lymph fluid from peripheral tissues to lymph nodes, facilitating filtration and immune cell activation.

Antigen

A molecule or substance that is recognized by the immune system as foreign, triggering an immune response by activating B-cells and T-cells.

Antigen Processing

The intracellular breakdown of antigens into smaller peptide fragments that can bind to MHC molecules for presentation to T-cells, facilitating their activation.

Antigen Presentation

The display of processed antigen fragments on the surface of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) bound to MHC molecules, enabling T-cells to recognize and respond to the antigen.

Antigen Receptor

A specialized protein found on the surface of B and T-cells that recognizes and binds to specific antigens, initiating the immune response.

Antigenic Determinant (Epitope)

A specific region on an antigen that is recognized and bound by antigen receptors on B and T-cells, triggering an immune response.

B-Cells

Also called B-lymphocytes, oversee humoral immunity; their descendants differentiate into plasma cells and memory B-cells that produce antibodies.

Barrier Defenses

The body’s first line of defense against pathogens that prevent microorganisms from ‘entering the body and causing infection.

Bone Marrow

Tissue found inside bones that produces blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The site of all blood cell differentiation and maturation of B lymphocytes.

Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (BALT)

A collection of immune cells located in the lining of the bronchi that plays a crucial role in the immune response to inhaled pathogens.

Central Tolerance

The process by which developing B & T-cells are tested to ensure they do not react against the body's own tissues, preventing autoimmune responses.

Chemokine

A small signaling protein that attracts immune cells to sites of inflammation, injury, or infection.

Chronic Inflammation

A long term inflammatory response that lasts for months or years when the body is unable to eliminate the cause of injury, infection, or inflammation

Chyle

A milky, fat-rich substance formed in the small intestine during the digestion. It contains absorbed lipids and is transported through the lymphatic system to the bloodstream.

Cisterna Chyli

An enlarged sac at the base of the thoracic duct; the origin of the thoracic duct that collects chyle from the intestinal lymphatic vessels.

Class Switching

The process by which a B cell changes the class of antibody it produces, such as from IgM to IgG, without altering the specificity for the antigen.

Clonal Anergy

A state in which B or T cells become functionally inactive and unresponsive to their specific antigen, preventing autoimmunity.

Clonal Deletion

the process by which self-reactive B or T cells are eliminated through apoptosis during lymphocyte development to prevent autoimmunity.

Clonal Expansion

The rapid proliferation of activated B or T-cells into a large number of identical cells that respond to a specific antigen, enhancing the immune response.

Clonal Selection

The process by which specific B or T cells are activated and proliferate upon encountering their antigen, leading to an enhanced immune response.

Clone

Descendents of a single cell.

Complement

A group of proteins in the blood that assist in the destruction of pathogens by marking them for destruction or promoting inflammation.

Constant Region Domain

The part of an antibody whose amino acid sequence stays relatively the same among antibodies of the same class. Does not bind to antigens and is responsible for mediating effector functions.

Cytokine

Small proteins released by cells that communicate with immune cells, influencing their activity and response.

Cytotoxic T-Cells

A type of T-lymphocyte that directly kill damaged, infected, or cancerous cells in the body.