Ch 6: The Lymphatic/Immune Systems

lymph/o

lymph fluid - removes cellular waste products, pathogens, and dead blood cells from tissues.

measles, mumps, rubella vaccination (MMR)

postherpetic neuralgia

a complication that may follow shingles if nerve fibers have been damaged during the outbreak - can be painful and persistent.

roseola (sixth disease)

common in infants 6mo-2yrs, a high fever and rash.

oncology

the study of the prevention, causes, and treatments of tumors/cancers

hard-tissue sarcomas

a malignant tumor that arises from bone or cartilage. (sarc=flesh, -oma=tumor)

staging

the process of classifying tumors by how far the disease has progresssed, the potential for its responding to therapy, and pt’s prognosis.

breast cancer

a carcinoma that develops from the cells of the breast and can spread to adjacent lymph nodes and other body sites, the majority of which are ER-positive (respond to estrogen); BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes carry a higher risk.

core needle biopsy

a technique in which a hollow needle is used with or without imaging such as an ultrasound to remove small samples of tissue from the breast for diagnosis .

surgical biopsity

removal of a larger piece of tissue for examination.

sentinel node biopsy

a biopsy of the first lymph node to come into contact with cancer cells as they leave the organ of origination and start spreading into the rest of the body.

axillary lymph node dissection

in which all lymph nodes in the breast are removed to slow the spread of cancer (CA/Ca)

soft-tissue sarcomas

cancers of the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, ect.

mastectomies

partial mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery= is the removal of only the cancerous tissue with the surrounding margin of normal tissue.

total/double mastectomy = removes entire breast and nipple.

breast reconstruction

immediate = begins during the same surgery as the mastectomy, when an expander is placed to replace old tissue.

delayed = if surgery is to be followed by radiation treatment, reconstruction may be put off.

adjuvant therapy

used after primary cancer treatments to decrease the chance of it coming back.

angiogenesis

the process where a tumor supports its growth by creating its own blood supply.

Kaposi’s sarcoma

an example of an opportunistic infection that is frequently associated with HIV. this cancer causes patches of abnormal tissue to grow under the skin or lining of the mouth/nose/throat.

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

a blood test used to screen for HIV antibodies and Lyme disease. an HIV differentiation assay confirms a positive ELISA test.

synthetic immunoglobins

aka immune serum, used as a post-exposure preventive measure against certain viruses (rabies and hepatitis)

monoclonal antibodies

any class of antibodies produced in a lab, enhance a pt’s immune response to certain malignancies (monoclonal = pertaining to a single clone of cells)

antiretroviral therapy (ART)

aka a treatment regimen, often is more than one drug in a necessary combination. It is not a cure, but it controls the impact of HIV.

pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

a daily preventative drug for people at high risk of HIV infection such as IV drug users and gay men.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

for people who have had suspected or confirmed exposure to HIV, such as sexual assault, and is taken for 28 days.

anthrax

contagious disease that can be transmitted through livestock. has been used in biological warfare.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever

caused by rickettsia, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected tick.

sphigellosis

an infection caused by the bacteria shigella, which can cause diarrhea and fever without good hygiene.

lyme disease

transmitted to humans by the bite of a tick that has had contact with an infected deer. can spread to joints, heart, and nervous system.

staphylococcus aureus

aka staph aureus, often infects wounds and causes serious problems (toxic shock, food poisoning)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

MRSA, a common type of bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

Tinea pedis

aka athlete’s foot, a fungal infection between the toes

aspergillosis

a rara infection caused by mold inhalation.

oral thrush / vaginal candidiasis

a yeast infection of the mouth/vagina

trichomoniasis

commonly transmitted STD caused by a parasite

influenza (flu)

a highly contagious viral respiratory infection that usually occurs in seasonal epidemics.

silent infection

when the individual has zero signs or symptoms of an infection

compression

specialized clothing that exerts pressure to improve circulation and lymph flow.

bioimpedance spectroscopy

measures the resistance to an electrical current passed through the affected limb

hypersensitivity

aka an allergy, is an overreaction of the body to a particular antigen.

scratch test

diagnostic test that identifies troublesome allergens such as pollen. swelling/itching = allergic reaction

antihistamines

medications administered to relieve or prevent the symptoms of allergy (by pollen and similar)

severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)

an inherited condition in which abnormalities in the immune system cause an increase in susceptibility to infection and failure to thrive as a result of infections

lymphatic capillaries

microscopic, blind-ended tubes located near the surface of the body with capillary walls that are only one cell in thickness. these cells briefly allow the lymph to enter the capillary.

right lymphatic duct

collects lymph from the right side of the head and neck, the upper right quadrant of the body, and the right arm. empties into the subclavian vein

thoracic duct

largest lymphatic vessel in the body, collects lymph from the left side of the head and neck, the upper left quadrant of the trunk, the left arm, and the entire lower portion of the trunk, and both legs. empties into the left subclavian duct.

cervical lymph nodes

located along the sides of the neck (cervic = neck)

axillary lymph nodes

located under the arms in the armpits (axill = armpit)

inguinal lymph nodes

located in the inguinal area of the lower abdomen

maturation

the process of being mature

differentiation

to be modified to perform a specific function. changes enable lymphocytes to act as specialized antibodies

B lymphocytes

aka B cells, are specialized lymphocytes that produce antibodies. most effective against viruses and bacteria circulating in the blood.

T lymphocytes

aka T cells, originate in the thymus - play a central role in cell-mediated immunity.

tonsils

three masses of lymphoid tissue that form a protective ring around the back of the nose and upper throat. play an important role in preventing pathogens from entering the respiratory system when breathing through the nose and mouth.

adenoids

known as the nasopharyngeal tonsils, located in the upper part of the pharynx

palatine tonsils

located on the left and right sides of the throat in the area that is visible at the back of the mouth. palatine = hard and soft palates that form the roof of the mouth.

lingual tonsils

located at the base of the tongue (lingual = tongue)

thymus

mass of lymphoid tissue located above the heart, reaches its greatest size at puberty and slowly gets smaller with age after that.

appendix

hangs from the lower portion of the cecum (first part of the large intestine). no known purpose but it MAY have been part of the immune system

pathogens

disease-producing microorganisms

allergens

substances that produce allergic reactions

toxins

poisonous or harmful substances

immunoglobulin G, A, M, D, E (IgG, IgA, ect)

IgG - found in blood and lymph, fights bacteria, fungi, viruses, and foreign particles

IgA - found in saliva, sweat, tears - fights viruses and bacteria against organ linings

IgM - found in circulating body fluids, fights antigens

IgD - found on the surface of B cells, important in B cell activation.

IgE - found in lungs, skin, and mucous membranes, responsible for allergic reactions

phagocytes

specialized leukocytes that act as part of the antigen-antibody reaction (phag/o = to eat or swallow)

dendritic cells

specialized leukocytes that patrol the body for antigens that could produce infections. When such a cell is found, dendritic cells swallow them and alert B/T cells

natural immunity

aka passive immunity, resists a disease present without the administration of an antigen or pre-exposure. present at birth.

acquired immunity

obtained by having had a contagious disease (being vaccinated)

vaccine

preparation containing an antigen, consisting of whole or partial disease-causing organisms.

allergist

specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of altered immunologic reactivity, such as allergic reactions

infectious disease specialist

a physician who specialized in diagnosing and treating diseases caused by microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites

immunologist

specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the immune system

lymphologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the lymphatic system

oncologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating malignant disorders such as tumors and cancer (onc = tumor)

lymphadenitis

swollen glands (inflamed lymph nodes), (lymphaden= lymph node)

acid mantle

covers the skin so that it’s inhospitable for most bacteria.

subclavian vein

the proximal part of the main vein of the arm.

lymphangi/o

lymphatic vessels and ducts; includes capillaries, vessels, and ducts that return lymph from the tissues to the venous bloodstream.

lymphaden/o

lymph nodes, which are bean-shaped structures of the lymphatic system where pathogens and other harmful substances are filtered from the lymph by specialized cells of the immune system.

villi

small projections that line the small intestine, includes lacteals and blood vessels

lacteals

specialized structures of the lymphatic system that absorb those fats that cannot be transported by the bloodstream.

secondary circulatory system

aka the lymphatic circulatory system

interstitial fluid

known as intercellular/tissue fluid, is plasma from arterial blood that flows out of the arterioles and into the capillaries.

lymph

made up of the remaining 10% of the returning interstitial fluid. clear, watery fluid containing electrolytes and proteins

tonsill/o or adenoid/o

tonsils and adenoids - lymphatic structures that protect the entry to the respiratory system.

splen/o

referring to the spleen, a sac-like mass of lymphoid tissue with protective roles in both the immune and lymphatic systems

myel/o

bone marrow (produces lymphocytes) (can also mean spinal cord)

lymphocyt/o

lymphocytes, specialized leukocytes that play important roles in immune reactions.thym

thym/o

thymus - a gland located in the upper chest with specialized roles in both the lymphatic/immune systems

ne/o

new, strange

carcin/o

cancerous

-oma

tumor, neoplasm

onc/o

tumor

phag/o

eat, swallow

-plasm

formative material of cells

sarc/o

flesh, connective tissue

-tic

pertaining to

tox/o

poison, poisonous (toxic)

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

the most advanced and fatal stage of an HIV infection

allergen

a substance that produces an allergic reaction in an individual