Immune, Cardiovascular, and Respiratory Systems Lecture Review

Flashcards covering the Immune System, Cardiovascular System, and Respiratory System based on lecture notes.

Immunity

The body's ability to resist foreign organisms and toxins that damage tissues and organs.

Natural Immunity

Resistance present at birth that is not dependent on previous exposure to an antigen; it is the body's natural response to infection and has no immunological memory.

Adaptive Immunity

The body's ability to recognize and remember specific antigens as part of an immune response; involves lymphocytes such as T and B cells.

Vaccinations

Injection of a killed pathogen that stimulates B cells to produce antibodies against that pathogen without causing the disease.

Antitoxins

Ready-made antibodies used to counteract poison or toxin, such as snake antivenom.

Immunoglobulins

An injection of ready-made antibodies that help boost adaptive immunity, also naturally passed from mother to infant.

Humoral Immunity

A component of adaptive immunity involving B cells; when a B-cell contacts an antigen it turns into a plasma cell and secretes antibodies.

Cell Mediated Immunity

A component of adaptive immunity involving different types of T cell lymphocytes.

Cytotoxic T cells (CD8+ T cells)

Cells that attach to antigens and kill them.

Helper T cells (CD4+ T cells)

Cells that assist B cells in making antibodies and stimulate T cells to attack.

Suppressor Cells

T cells that inhibit the activity of B and T cells and prevent them from being overactive.

Complement System

A group of proteins that help kill targets.

Dendritic Cells

Cells that present antigens to B and T cells.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

A group of clinical symptoms associated with the suppression of the immune system caused by HIV.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

A virus found in bodily fluids that destroys Helper T cells ($CD4+$ T cells) and disrupts the cell-mediated immune response.

Opportunistic Infection

Infectious diseases associated with AIDS that occur due to the body's lowered resistance to infectious organisms.

Lymphoma

A malignant tumor of the lymph nodes and lymph tissue.

Hodgkin's Disease

A specific type of malignant tumor of the lymph tissue.

ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay)

A test used to determine if a patient has HIV by looking for HIV antibodies; it can produce false positives.

Western Blot

A more specific test used to confirm an HIV diagnosis.

HAART

Highly active antiretroviral therapy used in the treatment of AIDS.

Arteries

Blood vessels that take blood away from the heart; they carry oxygenated blood except for the pulmonary artery.

Arterioles

Small arteries.

Capillaries

Microscopic blood vessels where gas exchange occurs, allowing $O_2$ to enter cells and picking up $CO_2$.

Veins

Blood vessels that bring blood back to the heart; they have valves and usually carry deoxygenated blood.

Systemic Circulation

The flow of blood from the left side of the heart to tissue capillaries and then back to the right side.

Pulmonary Circulation

The flow of blood from the right side of the heart to the lung capillaries and then to the left side.

Atria

The two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood into the heart.

Ventricles

The two lower chambers of the heart that send blood out of the heart.

Systole

The contraction phase of the heartbeat where the walls of the right and left ventricles contract to pump blood into the pulmonary artery and aorta.

SA Node

The pacemaker of the heart located in the right atrium that initiates the heart rate.

Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)

A record of the electrical activity of the heart.

P wave

The spread of an electrical wave over the atria just before contraction.

QRS wave

The spread of an electrical wave over the ventricles resulting in contraction.

T wave

The electrical recovery and relaxation of the ventricles.

Bradycardia

An abnormal heart rate characterized by a slow heartbeat.

Atrial Flutter

Rapid but regular contractions of the heart, reaching at least $350$ or more $BPM$.

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

Rapid, irregular, and random contractions of the heart at $350$ or more $BPM$, where blood is not pumped effectively.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

A condition where the heart cannot pump out as much blood as it receives.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Disease of the arteries surrounding the heart, usually due to atherosclerosis (plaque buildup).

Ischemia

A condition where blood flow is held back or stopped, usually caused by coronary artery occlusion.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

A heart attack; the death of cardiac muscle due to a lack of $O_2$ and blood flow to part of the heart.

Unstable Angina

Chest pain occurring at rest or chest pain due to myocardial ischemia.

Embolus

A collection of material (such as a clot or air) that travels to and blocks a blood vessel.

Hypertension

High blood pressure, defined as being above the normal range of $120/80$.

Lipoprotein Thresholds

LDL (Low density lipoprotein) should be low; HDL (High density lipoprotein) should be $> 60\,mg/dl$; Total cholesterol should be $< 200\,mg/dl$.

Cardiac Biomarkers

Chemicals measured in the blood that show evidence of a heart attack.

Echocardiography (ECHO)

A procedure using sound waves transmitted into the chest to show the structure and movement of the heart.

Sphygmomanometer

A device used to measure blood pressure.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

A procedure where a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into a coronary artery to open it; stents may be placed to keep the artery open.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)

A surgery where a vein from another part of the body is used to create a detour around a blocked coronary artery.

External Respiration

The process where oxygen is inhaled into the lungs and $CO_2$ is exhaled out.

Internal Respiration

The exchange of gases at the cellular level where oxygen passes to tissue and $CO_2$ passes into capillaries.

Auscultation

A procedure performed with a stethoscope to listen to sounds within the body to diagnose conditions of the lungs and heart.

Percussion

Tapping on a surface to determine differences in the density of underlying structures.

Rales

Also known as crackles; abnormal lung sounds heard during inspiration when there is fluid or blood in the lungs.

Rhonchi

Wheezing sounds heard during respiration.

Croup

An acute viral infection in infants and children characterized by a barking cough and stridor.

Asthma

A chronic bronchial inflammation disorder caused by edema, bronchial constriction, and mucus production.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

A global term for chronic persistent obstruction of airflow through bronchial tubes, often caused by smoking.

Atelectasis

A collapsed lung caused by incomplete expansion of the alveoli.

Emphysema

The hyperinflation of alveoli with destruction of alveolar walls, often caused by cigarette smoking.

Pneumoconiosis

An abnormal condition of dust in the lungs, usually from occupational exposure.

Pneumonia

Acute inflammation and infection of the alveoli, which fill with pus or other products of inflammation.

Pulmonary Edema

Fluid in the alveoli and bronchioles, often caused by congestive heart failure.

Pulmonary Embolism

A clot or other material that lodges in the vessels of the lung.

Tuberculosis (TB)

An infectious disease that produces tubercles in the lung, often diagnosed by a PPD test.

Pleural Effusion

The abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural space.

Pneumothorax

A collection of air in the pleural space.

Bronchoscopy

The use of a fiberoptic endoscope to examine the bronchial tubes.

Thoracentesis

The removal of fluid from the pleural space.

Tracheostomy

The surgical creation of a new opening into the trachea.

Tube Thoracostomy

The placement of a chest tube into the pleural space to remove air, fluid, or pus.