The Immune System: Innate and Adaptive Body Defenses

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in the immune system, highlighting innate and adaptive defenses, immune cells, and related conditions.

Immune System

A functional system that provides resistance to disease and pathogens, consisting of two intrinsic systems: Innate and Adaptive.

Innate Immune System

The nonspecific defense system that includes external body membranes and various internal defenses such as phagocytes and inflammation.

Adaptive Immune System

The specific defense system that targets particular foreign substances and has memory, allowing for quicker responses upon subsequent exposures.

Phagocytes

Cells such as macrophages and neutrophils that engulf and destroy pathogens.

Inflammation

A response triggered by tissue injury, characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain, which helps dispose of pathogens and debris.

Antimicrobial Proteins

Proteins that enhance innate defenses by attacking microorganisms directly or hindering their reproduction, e.g., interferons and complement proteins.

Interferons

Family of proteins secreted by virus-infected cells to signal neighboring cells to enhance their defenses against viral infections.

Complement System

A group of blood proteins that activate to enhance inflammation and destroy foreign substances.

Fever

An abnormally high body temperature that enhances the immune response and inhibits microbial growth.

Antigens

Substances that can mobilize adaptive defenses and provoke an immune response, recognized by specific lymphocytes.

B Lymphocytes

White blood cells involved in humoral immunity that produce antibodies in response to antigens.

T Lymphocytes

White blood cells that carry out cellular immunity, including helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells.

Memory Cells

Cells that provide immunological memory, mounting faster responses upon re-exposure to the same antigen.

Autoimmunity

A condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.

Immunodeficiency

Conditions impairing the function or production of immune cells, leading to increased susceptibility to infections.

Opportunistic Infections

Infections that occur when the immune system is weakened or compromised, allowing normally non-pathogenic microorganisms to cause disease.

Regulatory T Cells

Cells that suppress immune responses to prevent autoimmunity and maintain body tolerance to self-antigens.