Immune Response Vocab

Antigen

Any substance that elicits a B or T cell response (white blood cells)

Histamine

a signaling molecule released by the immune system that mediates allergic and inflammatory responses (heat and swelling because of dilated blood vessels)

Platelets

Small, disc-shaped cell fragments in the blood that prevent excessive bleeding by clumping and forming scabs

Antigen Presenting Cell

A type of immune cell that captures, processes, and presents antigens to T-cells to initiate an adaptive immune response.

Helper T Cell

Coordinates immune response by stimulating other cells such as B cells to produce antibodies and natural killer cells

Primary Immune Response

plasma cells make and secrete antibodies so they can be tagged and killed by macrophages that recognize the tag

Memory Cells

In the blood and are ready to release antibodies the next time you are exposed, making this process faster than the prior.