Immunology, Transplantation, and Immune Disorders

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering terms from immunology key concepts, tissue transplantation and rejection, age-related changes, autoimmune disorders, and immunodeficiency conditions.

Abscess

An accumulation of pus within a tissue

Active immunity

Immunity that results when the body manufactures its own antibodies or T cells against a pathogen

Acute inflammation

Inflammation that occurs quickly as a result of tissue injury

Adaptive immunity

Immunity acquired during a lifetime

Afferent lymphatic vessels

Lymphatic vessels that channel lymphatic fluid into a lymph node

Allergen

Environmental substance that triggers an allergic response

Anaphylaxis

Severe, immediate hypersensitivity reaction affecting the entire body

Antibody

Substance produced by B lymphocytes in response to a specific antigen

Antigen

Any molecule that triggers an immune response

Antigen-presenting cell

Phagocyte that displays fragments of an antigen on its surface to alert the immune system to the presence of a foreign antigen

Appendix

A narrow pouch that projects off the lower end of the large intestine, where it is thought to serve as a reservoir for beneficial gut bacteria; also called vermiform appendix

Artificial active immunity

Results when the body makes T cells and antibodies against a disease as a result of a vaccination

Artificial passive immunity

Immunity that results following an injection of antibodies produced in another individual or mass produced from lab cultures

B lymphocytes

White blood cell that makes antibodies

Cellular immunity

Immune response that targets foreign cells or host cells that have become infected with a pathogen

Chemotaxis

The movement of white blood cells to an area of inflammation in response to the release of chemicals from the injured cells

Chronic inflammation

Slow, long-term inflammation

Complement

A group of proteins in the blood that, through a cascade of chemical reactions, participate in nonspecific immunity

Cortical nodules

Compartments within lymph nodes filled with lymphocytes

Cytokines

Any of a number of substances secreted by certain cells of the immune system and have an effect on other cells that aid cell-to-cell communication during the immune response

Diapedesis

Process in which neutrophils squeeze between the epithelial cells of small vessels so as to leave the vessel and enter inflamed tissue

Efferent lymphatic vessels

Lymphatic vessels through which lymphatic fluid leaves a lymph node

Epidemic

A sudden increase in disease cases in a specific geographical area

Extravasation

The movement of cells out of a blood vessel and into tissue during inflammation

Germinal centers

Less dense area at the center of cortical nodules that form and release lymphocytes

Gut-associated lymphatic tissue (GALT)

Diffuse system of small concentrations of lymphoid tissue in the small intestine; consists of Peyer's patches and the appendix

Histamine

Substance secreted by injured or irritated cells that produces local vasodilation, among other effects

Humoral immunity

Immune response that uses antibodies to target pathogens outside the host cells

Hyperemia

Increased blood flow to an area

Immunoglobulins

Antibodies

Inflammation

An immunological response to injury, infection, or allergy, marked by increases in regional blood flow, immigration of white blood cells, and release of chemical toxins

Innate immunity

Immunity present at birth

Interferon

Group of proteins produced by cells as a reaction to infection by a virus

Interleukin

Chemical secreted by helper T cells that attracts neutrophils

Lymph nodes

Kidney-shaped masses of lymphatic tissue that lie along lymphatic vessels

Lymph

Clear, colorless fluid filling lymphatic capillaries

Lysozyme

Enzyme in mucus, tears, and saliva that weakens the cell wall of some bacteria

Macrophage

Important phagocyte that remains fixed in strategic areas

Monoclonal antibodies

Antibodies created in a lab to bind to a specific target in the body

Mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT)

Diffuse system of small concentrations of lymphoid tissue throughout the body

Tissue rejection reaction

A cellular immune response where the recipient's immune system recognizes donor tissues as foreign and sets off a response to destroy the tissue

Autograft

Tissue taken from one part of the body and transplanted to another in the same individual, which does not trigger a rejection response

Allograft

Bone or tissue transplanted from one person to another

Delayed allergic reaction

An allergic response involving cell-mediated immunity (such as contact dermatitis) that results in local skin inflammation 12 to 72 hours after exposure

Autoimmune disease

A condition occurring when the immune system fails to differentiate between self-antigens and foreign antigens, producing antibodies that attack its own tissues

Self-antigens

The molecules native to a person's body

Rheumatic fever

An autoimmune condition where antibodies produced in response to a streptococcal infection react against the heart's myocardium, causing scarring of the mitral and aortic valves

Systemic lupus erythematosus

An autoimmune disease affecting multiple organs, including the kidneys, skin, heart, and joints

Scleroderma

An autoimmune disease affecting the skin, intestines, and lungs

Graves' disease

An autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid gland

Ulcerative colitis

An autoimmune disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract

Severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID)

A rare congenital immunodeficiency disease in which children have few or no T and B cells

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

An immunodeficiency condition resulting from HIV infection that destroys helper T cells, placing the host at risk for severe infections and cancers

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

A virus that invades and eventually destroys helper T cells, leading to AIDS

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia

A protozoal infection that rarely occurs in healthy people but occurs frequently in persons with AIDS

Kaposi sarcoma

A type of cancer that rarely occurs in healthy people but occurs frequently in persons with AIDS

Immunosuppressed

The state of a person having a weakened immune response due to medications such as corticosteroids, autoimmune disorder drugs, or cancer chemotherapy