Immune System Overview

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts of the immune system.

Innate Immune System

The body's first line of defense providing immediate, nonspecific protection against invaders.

Adaptive Immune System

A more sophisticated and specific defense system that develops over days to weeks after exposure to a pathogen.

Phagocytes

Cells capable of ingesting and killing microorganisms, such as neutrophils and macrophages.

Antigens

Unique molecules recognized by the adaptive immune system that are crucial for mounting specific immune responses.

Antibodies

Immunoglobulins (Ig) produced by B cells that bind to foreign invaders to mark them for destruction.

Cytokines

Protein messenger molecules that facilitate communication within the immune system.

Chemokines

Cytokines that direct immune cells to the site of infection.

Memory Cells

Cells that allow the immune system to remember foreign invaders for faster and more effective responses upon re-exposure.

Tolerance

Mechanism ensuring the immune system recognizes body’s own cells to prevent autoimmune diseases.

TLRs (Toll-like Receptors)

Pattern Recognition Receptors that recognize pathogens and initiate immune responses.

Phagocytosis

The ability of phagocytes to ingest foreign particles by enveloping them.

Complement System

A part of the immune system that enhances the ability to clear microbes and promote inflammation.

Opsonization

The process by which pathogens are marked for destruction by binding of C3b.

Inflammation

A tissue reaction that delivers immune mediators to sites of infection or damage.

Neutrophils

A type of phagocyte that is one of the first to accumulate at sites of infection.