HAN 312 Biology: Lymphatic & Immune System Terms

lymph

clear, thin, watery fluid consisting of white blood cells (lymphocytes and monocytes) and a few red blood cells; originates in the blood and is surrounding the body's cells, within tissues, and within lymphatic vessels; flows in a system of lymph vessels throughout the body

lymphatic system

Return lymph from body tissues to the blood; transport proteins and fluid that have leaked, back to the bloodstream; maintains the body's internal fluid level; filter microorganisms and foreign particles from the lymph

lymphatic vessels

carrier of lymph from body tissues to venous system; absorb lipids form intestines and transport them to the blood stream

lymphatic organs

produce lymphocytes and antibodies

lymph fluid

rich in lymphocytes and monocytes, which protect the body by mounting a cellular attack on foreign cells and organisms

blood capillaries

smallest blood vessels; filters out lymph into the spaces between cells

interstitial fluid

fluid in the space between cells that become lymph in lymph capillaries; fluid that surrounds body cells that passes continuously into lymph capillaries that course through tissue spaces

lymph capilaries

smallest lymphatic vessels; thin-walled vessels that interstitial fluid passes through that course through tissue spaces

lymph tissues and organs

lymph passes through large lymphatic vessels through clusters of this until they finally reach large lymphatic ducts in the upper chest

lymphatic ducts

located in the upper chest where lymph goes to to then be emptied into the bloodstream

lymph valves

facilitate one way transport of lymph

lymph organs

collections of lymphatic tissue along lymph vessels which produce lymphocytes and antibodies; includes adenoids, tonsils, lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus

right lymphatic duct

vessel in the chest which drains lymph from the upper right part of the body and empties it into the large neck vein

thoracic duct

vessel in the chest which drains lymph from the entirety of the body except for the upper right portion and empties it into the large neck vein

adenoids

lymph organ; mass of lymphatic tissue in the nasopharynx

tonsils

lymph organ; masses of lymphatic tissue in the back of the oropharynx

lymph nodes

lymph organ; collection of stationary, solid lymphatic tissue along lymph vessels; filter the lymph; located in the cervical (neck), axillary (armpit), mediastinal (chest), mesenteric (mesentery), paraaortic (near aorta in lumbar region), and inguinal (groin)

spleen

lymph organ; composed of lymph tissue; located in the LUQ of the abdominal cavity; destroys old rbcs; filters microorganisms and other foreign material out of the blood; activates lymphocytes during blood filtration; stores blood, esp erythrocytes (rbcs) and platelets

b lymphocytes

aka b cells; activated by the spleen to produce antibodies

t lymphocytes

aka t cells; activated by the spleen to attack foreign materials

thymus gland

lymph organ; composed of lymph tissue; located in the mediastinum within the thoracic cavity; provides immunity in fetal life and in early years of growth; makes cells immunocompetent in early life; early removal from an animal impairs its ability to make antibodies and produce cells to fight antigens

lymph/o

lymph

aden/o

gland

splen/o

spleen

thym/o

thymus gland

lymphaden/o

lymph node

cervic/o

neck, cervix (neck of the uterus)

axill/o

armpit

inguin/o

groin

lymphedema

edema due to a blocked lymph node or lymph vessel

lymphadenitis

inflammation of the lymph nodes

lymphadenopathy

disease of the lymph nodes, usually causes enlargement of the nodes

lymphangitis

inflammation of a lymph vessel

edema

accumulation of excess fluid in intercellular spaces; can be caused by blockage of lymph vessels

pitting edema

edema that retains an indentation of a finger that had been pressed firmly on the skin

elephantiasis

enlargement of the lower extremities due to blockage of lymph vessels commonly caused by filarial worms (filariae)

filariae

small parasitic worms that are transmitted by mosquitoes; the worms invade tissues as embryos and block lymph vessels as they grow

lymphoma

malignant tumor of lymph nodes and lymph tissue

hodgkin lymphoma

Reed-Sternberg cells; malignant tumor of lymphoid tissue in the spleen and lymph nodes

non-hodgkin lymphoma

follicular lymphoma, large cell lymphoma

thymoma

tumor of the thymus gland; associated with myasthenia gravis; patients may have other autoimmune disorders such as lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis

computed tomography scan

x-ray imaging produces cross sectional and other views of anatomic structures; can view abnormalities of lymphoid organs such as lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus

lymphadenectomy

excision of a lymph node

lymphadenotomy

incision into a lymph node

adenectomy

excision of a gland

immunity

the body's ability to resist foreign organisms and toxins that would damage tissue and organs; can be natural or adaptive

toxin

poison; protein produced by certain bacteria, animals, or plants

immune system

protects the body via immunity; protects the body with circulating white blood cells and antibodies

antibody

specific protein produced by lymphocytes in response to bacteria, viruses, or other antigens; inactivates antigens; provides immunity against specific organisms

antigen

agent or substance that provokes an immune response via stimulation of an antibody

natural immunity

immune resistance which is present at birth; not dependent on prior exposure to an antigen; genetic predisposition; responsible for phagocytosis, macrophages, lymphocytes/natural killer cells

acquired immunity

can be active or passive

active acquired immunity

having an infection, vaccination, transfer of immune cells from a donor

passive acquired immunity

antitoxins, immunoglobulins, maternal antibodies

adaptive immunity

the body's ability to recognize and remember specific antigens in an immune response to mount an attack on them; humoral vs cell mediated immunity; responsible for lymphocytes, antibodies, second exposure memory, vaccination responses, immunoglobulins, and maternal antibodies

humoral immunity

b cell production of antibodies after exposure to an antigen; type of adaptive immunity

cell mediated immunity

type of immunity produced by T cells that attack infected or abnormal body cells

lymphocytes

b and t cells

b lymphocytes (b cells)

produce antibodies; mature in the bone marrow; responsible for humoral immunity; originate in bone marrow from stem cells; produce antibodies after exposure to specific antigens; mature into plasma cells that produce antibodies called immunoglobulins to block effects of antigen

t lymphocytes (t cells)

attack bacteria and foreign cells; originate in the thymus gland (cell mediated immunity); are responsible for cell mediated immunity in which these cells respond and destroy antigens or produce chemical toxic to antigens; do not involve antibodies; originate from bone marrow stem cells processed in the thymus gland; include cytotoxic t cells, helper t cells, and suppressor t cells

antibodies

produced after exposure to an antigen to destroy the antigen

immunoglobulins

antibodies secreted by plasma cells in response to an antigen; produced by b cells to block effects of antigen

cytotoxic t cells (CD8+ T cells)

attach to and directly kill antigens; secrete cytokines to aid in t cell antigen destruction

cytokines (interferons and interleukins)

help respond to antigens

interferon

protein secreted by t cells and other cells to aid and regulate the immune response

interleukins

proteins which stimulate the growth of b and t lymphocytes

helper t cells (CD4+ T cells)

promote antibody synthesis by b cells and stimulate other t cells

suppressor t cells (regulatory t cells or tregs)

inhibit b and t cells and prevent them from attacking the body's own good cells

tolerance

ability of t lymphocytes to recognize and accept the body's own antigens as self or friendly

complement system

group of proteins which help antibodies kill their target; help antibodies kill antigens

dendritic cells

macrophages derived from monocytes that recognize and digest foreign antigens and present antigens on the surface to stimulate b and t cells and show them what to attack; antigen - presenting cells

immun/o

immune, protection, safe

tox/o

poison

ana-

again, anew, up, apart, backward

auto-

self, own

hyper-

above, excessive

retro-

behind, back, backward

inter-

between

-cytosis

condition of cells, slight increase in numbers

-penia

deficiency

-phylaxis

protection

-poiesis

formation

-suppression

to stop

-globulin

protein

-stitial

to set, pertaining to standing or positioned

-oid

resembling

-megaly

enlargement

-pathy

disease, emotion

-edema

swelling

autoimmunity

pertaining to one's immune system attacking its own tissues or cells

hypersensitive

condition of excessive response or an exaggerated sensitivity to a stimulus

predisposition

condition of being susceptible to disease

proliferative

growing and inc in number of similar cells

rejection

immunologic response of incompatibility to a transplanted organ or tissue

systemic

pertaining to the body as a whole

virulent

denotes an extremely toxic pathogen

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

virus found in bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, semen, vaginal and cervical secretions; transmitted via sexual contact, blood inoculation, or mother to fetus/newborn; destroys helper t cells which leads you to be susceptible to opportunistic infections

opportunistic infections

more susceptible for those with HIV; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAI) infection, Tuberculosis (TB), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, Herpes simplex, Cryptosporidiosis, Toxoplasmosis (Toxo), Candidiasis, Cryptococcus, Histoplasmosis (Histo), Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)

kaposi sarcoma

cancerous condition starting as purple or brown papules on the lower extremities that spreads through the skin to the lymph nodes and internal organs; frequently seen with AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

The most advanced, and fatal, stage of an HIV infection