Blood Types, Antigens, and Immune Response

Flashcards covering key concepts regarding blood types, immune response, and related biological systems.

Antigen

A substance that the immune system can recognize as foreign, prompting an immune response.

Antibody

A protein produced by the immune system that binds to specific antigens to neutralize or eliminate them.

Rh factor

A protein that can be present on the surface of red blood cells; determines whether blood type is positive or negative.

Erythroblastosis Fetalis

A condition where a mother's antibodies attack her baby's red blood cells, often due to Rh incompatibility.

Leukocytes

White blood cells that are part of the immune system and help defend the body against infections.

Thrombocytes

Platelets involved in clotting blood; they are not whole cells but fragments of larger cells.

Hemophilia

A genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, leading to excessive bleeding.

Lymphatic System

A network of vessels and nodes that help maintain fluid balance, filter out pathogens, and produce immune cells.

Homeostasis

The state of steady internal conditions maintained by living organisms.

Interstitial Fluid

Fluid that surrounds tissue cells, derived from blood plasma that has seeped out of capillaries.