L18 P 2 T-Cells, B-Cells, and Adaptive Immunity

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to T-cells, B-cells, and the adaptive immune response.

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

These are like name tags on your cells. They grab tiny pieces of invaders (antigens) and show them off, so your immune system's T-cells can recognize and fight the enemy.

Humoral Immune Response

Think of this as your body's way of sending out targeted missiles (antibodies) to clear out anything that shouldn't be there in your blood and fluids, like toxins or viruses.

Cell-Mediated Immune Response

This is your body's SWAT team. Instead of using missiles, it trains special T-cells to find and destroy infected cells directly.

Helper T Cells

These are the immune system's quarterbacks. They call the shots by activating other immune cells—B-cells to make antibodies and cytotoxic T-cells to kill infected cells.

Cytokines

Think of these as the messages helper T-cells send to get everyone else fired up. They tell B-cells to start making antibodies.

Clonal Selection

This is how your body makes a whole army of B-cells that are specifically designed to fight one particular invader (antigen).

Plasma Cells

These are the antibody factories. They're created from activated B-cells and pump out antibodies to fight the enemy right away.

Memory Cells

These are like your immune system's memory. After an infection, some B-cells turn into memory cells that remember the invader, so if it ever comes back, your body can fight it off much faster.

Neutralization (in Antibody Function)

This is when antibodies block a pathogen from infecting your cells, like covering a keyhole so the key can't get in.

Opsonization

This is like putting a spotlight on pathogens, making it easier for other immune cells to find and swallow them up.

Complement System

This is like a security system that sets off an alarm and then pokes holes in the invader, causing it to burst open and die.

Cytotoxic T Cells

These are killer cells that can recognize infected cells and release proteins that make holes in their membranes, destroying them.

Humoral Immune Response (Adaptive Immunity)

This is the part of your adaptive immunity that uses B-cells, helper T-cells, and plasma cells to protect against invaders hanging out outside your cells, using antibodies.

Cell-Mediated Immune Response (Adaptive Immunity)

This is the part of your adaptive immunity that uses cytotoxic T-cells to take out infected cells, protecting you from viruses and cancers that hide inside cells.