Inflammation & Immune Response

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture on inflammation and immune responses.

Acute inflammation

Immediate, short-term tissue response to injury or infection characterised by vascular and cellular phases.

Rubor

Redness observed during inflammation due to local vasodilation.

Calor

Heat generated at an inflamed site as blood flow increases.

Tumor (swelling)

Fluid accumulation (exudate) causing swelling in acute inflammation.

Dolor

Pain produced by inflammatory chemical mediators and tissue swelling.

Functio laesa

Loss of function that accompanies severe inflammation.

Chemotaxis

Directed movement of leukocytes toward chemical signals at injury sites.

Exudate

Protein-rich fluid that leaks from dilated, permeable vessels during inflammation.

Histamine

Mediator released from mast cells that triggers vasodilation and vascular permeability.

Prostaglandins

Lipid mediators that amplify inflammation, pain and fever.

Cytokines

Cell-signalling proteins that coordinate immune and inflammatory responses.

Complement system

Plasma protein cascade that opsonises microbes and promotes cell lysis.

Coagulation system

Plasma factors that form fibrin clots, limiting spread of infection.

Fibrinolytic system

Plasma enzymes that break down fibrin to resolve clots.

Resolution (repair)

Complete restoration of normal tissue architecture after inflammation.

Suppuration

Formation of pus composed of dead cells, bacteria and neutrophils.

Organisation

Healing outcome where granulation tissue with new capillaries and fibroblasts replaces damage.

Innate immunity

Immediate, non-specific defence with no immunologic memory.

Acquired (adaptive) immunity

Antigen-specific defence that develops memory after exposure.

Mechanical barriers

Physical innate defences such as skin, mucous membranes, cilia and flushing actions.

Opsonin

Molecule (e.g., antibody or complement fragment) that coats pathogens to enhance phagocytosis.

Natural killer (NK) cell

Innate lymphocyte able to destroy virus-infected or abnormal cells without prior sensitisation.

Neutrophil

First-responder phagocytic leukocyte that engulfs pathogens during acute inflammation.

Macrophage

Large phagocyte derived from monocytes that digests microbes and presents antigens.

Phagocyte

Cell (neutrophil, macrophage) that engulfs and destroys foreign particles.

Phagocytosis

Process of engulfing and digesting microbes or debris by phagocytes.

Antigen

Foreign substance that is recognised by the immune system and elicits a response.

Antibody

Protein produced by B cells that binds specifically to an antigen.

Immunoglobulin

Another term for antibody; five main classes (IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE).

Lymphocyte

White blood cell subtype including B cells, T cells and NK cells.

B cell

Lymphocyte that differentiates into plasma cells to secrete antibodies.

Plasma cell

Activated B cell specialised for mass production of antibodies.

Memory cell

Long-lived B or T cell that enables faster secondary immune responses.

T cell

Lymphocyte that mediates cellular immunity and regulates immune responses.

Cell-mediated immunity

T-cell driven immune defence that attacks infected or abnormal cells.

Humoral immunity

Antibody-mediated immunity carried out by B cells and circulating immunoglobulins.

Active immunity

Immune protection produced by an individual’s own immune response to antigen exposure or vaccination.

Passive immunity

Temporary protection gained by receiving pre-formed antibodies from another source.

Primary immune response

Initial, slower antibody production following first antigen exposure.

Secondary immune response

Rapid, robust antibody production upon re-exposure to the same antigen.

MHC I (Major Histocompatibility Complex I)

Surface proteins presenting internal peptides; recognised by cytotoxic T cells and NK cells.

Chemotactic factors

Substances that attract immune cells to sites of damage or infection.

Lysosomal enzymes

Hydrolytic enzymes released from neutrophils/macrophages that degrade pathogens and tissue debris.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (polymorphs)

Granular white blood cells—mainly neutrophils—involved in early acute inflammation.