Immunity Concepts Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of 21 vocabulary flashcards based on Nursing II Adult Medical Surgical Nursing lecture notes covering the immune system, inflammation, and adaptive responses.

Optimal Immune Response

A state that provides protection from invasion, removes dead and damaged cells or tissue, and recognizes and removes mutated abnormal cells.

Primary Lymphoid Tissues

Central tissues of the immune system consisting of the Thymus and Bone marrow.

Secondary Lymphoid Tissues

Peripheral tissues including the Spleen, Lymph nodes, Tonsils, and other lymphoid tissues.

Antigen

A substance such as a microorganism, toxin, pollen, or foreign tissue that triggers an immune response.

Innate Immunity

The natural or native first and second lines of defense which are non-specific and offer a broad spectrum of protection.

Adaptive Immunity

The acquired third line of defense that is specific to a unique organism and possesses memory.

Acute Inflammation

A category of inflammation that lasts less than $2$ weeks and is self-limiting.

Chronic Inflammation

A category of inflammation that lasts more than $2$ weeks, and can persist for months or years, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Erythema

A clinical manifestation of local inflammation characterized by redness.

Lymphadenopathy

A clinical manifestation of systemic inflammation characterized by lymph node swelling.

Leukocytosis

A systemic inflammatory indicator where the WBC count is $>11,000$ or there are $>10\%$ bands.

Shift to the Left

An increase in "bands" (immature cells), commonly seen in bacterial infections where many neutrophil bands are being created.

Neutrophils

Granulocytes that make up $40-70\%$ of WBCs and respond to bacteria and acute infection.

Eosinophils

Granulocytes that make up $1-3\%$ of WBCs and respond to allergens and parasites.

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MCH)

A distinct property of the adaptive response involved in self-recognition of a person's unique cells.

Humoral Immunity

An antibody-mediated adaptive response produced by B lymphocytes that binds with antigens to deactivate them.

IgG

The most abundant immunoglobulin ($75\%$) which is active against bacteria and viruses and is the only antibody capable of crossing the placenta.

IgA

An immunoglobulin ($10\%-15\%$) found in secretions like saliva and tears that provides local protection on exposed mucous membrane surfaces.

IgE

An immunoglobulin ($<0.1\%$) found on mast cells and basophils involved in immediate hypersensitivity responses and parasitic infections.

Cell-Mediated Immunity

An adaptive response involving T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and macrophages that finds antigens living inside body cells.

Active Artificial Immunity

A type of acquired immunity obtained through immunization.