Ch. 6 Lymphatic System

hemolytic

hemolytic

pertaining to the rupture or destruction of red blood cells

lymph

clear, watery fluid containing electrolytes and protein that plays an important part in the lymphatic system; made up of 10% of returning interstitial fluid

lymphocytes

leukocytes that are formed in the bone marrow as stem cells; they work together with the immune system to defend the body against antigens

antigen

any substance that the body regards as being forward

natural killer cells

cells that play an important role in the killing of cancer cells and cells infected by viruses

B cells

specialized lymphocytes that produce antibodies

T Cells

lymphocytes in the thymus that play a central role in cell-mediated immunity

cytokines

groups of proteins such as interferons and interleukins that are released by the T cells; they act as intracellular signals to begin the immune response

interferons

produced in response to the presence of antigens; they activate the immune system, fight viruses by slowing or stopping multiplication, and signals other cells to increase their defenses

antigen-antibody reaction

aka immune response, involves binding antigens to antibodies

antibody

disease fighting proteins created by immune system in response to antigen

immunoglobulins

antibodies that bind with antigens in antigen-antibody reaction

phagocytes

specialized leukocytes that act as part of the antigen-antibody reaction by destroying foreign substances

macrophage

type of leukocyte that surrounds and kills invading cells

complement system

group of proteins that circulate in the blood in an inactive form

lymphadenitis

known as swollen glands; an inflammation of the lymph nodes

lymphadenopathy

any disease process affecting the lymph nodes

lymphangioma

benign tumor formed by an abnormal collection of lymphatic vessels due to a congenital malformation of the lymphatic system

splenorrhagia

bleeding from the spleen

splenomegaly

abnormal enlargement of the spleen

lymphoscintigraphy

diagnostic test performed to detect damage or malformations of the lymph vessels

lymphedema

swelling of the tissues due to an abnormal accumulation of lymph fluid within the tissues

allergic reaction

occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to a harmless allergen

allergen

a substance that produces an allergic reaction in an individual

systemic reaction or anaphylaxis

severe response to an allergen that develops quickly and is considered a medical emergency

antihistamines

medications administered to relieve or prevent the symptoms of an allergy

autoimmune disorder

group of diseases in which the immune system produces antibodies against its own tissues

immunodeficiency disorders

occurs when the immune response is weaken or not functioning properly

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

bloodborne infection in which the virus damages or kills the T cells of the immune system

opportunistic infection

caused by a pathogen that does not normally produce illness in healthy humans; however can produce illness if they are weakened by another condition

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

the most advanced and fatal stage of an HIV infection

immunotherapy

aka biological therapy; disease treatment that involves either stimulating or repressing the immune response

Immunosuppression

treatment to repress or interfere with the ability of the immune system to respond to stimulation by antigens

cytotoxic drug

medication that kills or damages cells

bacteria

one-celled microscopic organisms

bacilli

rod-shaped, spore-forming bacteria

anthrax

contagious disease that can be transmitted through livestock infected with Bacillus anthracis

rickettsia

small bacterium that lives in lice, fleas, ticks and mites; causes Rocky Mountain Spotty fever

spirochetes

long, slender, spiral-shaped bacteria that have flexible walls and are capable of movement

lyme disease

transmitted to humans through the bite of a tick that has had contact with a deer infected with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.

Staphylococci

group of bacteria that resemble clusters of grapes; reside in skin and mucous membranes

Streptococci

bacteria that form a chaina

antibiotic resistant bacteria

occurs when antibiotics fail to kill all of the bacteria they target; surviving bacteria become resistant to that drug

Tinea pedis

fungal infection that develops between the toes; known as athletes’ foot

candidiasis

yeast infection that occurs in skin or mucous membranes

parasite

plant or animal that lives on or within another organism at the expense of that organism

malaria

caused by parasite that lives in certain mosquitoes and is transferred to humans through infected mosquito bites

toxoplasmosis

parasite that is most commonly transmitted from pets to humans by contact with contaminated animal feces

virus

small infectious agents that live only by invading other cells

influenza

highly contagious viral respiratory infection that occurs in seasonal epidemics

measles

acute highly contagious infection that is transmitted by respiratory droplets of the rubeola virus

mumps

acute viral infection that is characterized by the swelling of the parotid (salivary) glands

Rubella

viral infection also known as German measles of 3 day measles; same symptoms of measles but caused by a different virus

rabies

acute viral infection that is transmitted to humans though the bite or saliva of infected animal

varicella

caused by the herpes virus, Varicella zoster; characterized by fluid filled blisters; aka chickenpox

herpes zoster

known as shingles; acute viral infection characterized by painful skin eruptions on an underlying nerve

infectious mononucleosis

caused by Epstein-Barr virus, characterized by sore throat, fever, enlarged lymph nodes. known as the kissing disease

antibiotics

medications capable of inhibiting growth or killing pathogenic bacterial microorganisms

bactericide

substance that causes the death of bacteria

antifungal

an agent that destroys or inhibits the growth of fungi

antiviral drug

used to treat viral diseases or provide temporary immunity

oncology

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

tumor or neoplasm

abnormal growth of body tissue

benign

not life threatening, although this type of tumor can cause damage as it grows and places pressure

myoma

benign tumor made up of muscle tissue

malignant

progressively worse and life-threatening that can be spread to distant body sites

myosarcoma

malignant tumor derived from muscle tissue

angiogenesis

process though tumor supports its growth by creating its own blood supply

antiangiogenesis

form of treatment that disrupts the blood supply to a tumor

cancer

uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues,

metastasis

process by which cancer is spread to a new site

carcinoma

malignant tumor that occurs in epithelial tissue

carcinoma in situ

malignant tumor in its original position that has not yet disturbed or invaded surrounded tissue

adenocarcinoma

large group of carcinomas derived from the glandular tissues

sarcoma

malignant tumor derived from connective tissue

osteosarcoma

hard tissue sarcoma that usually involves upper shaft of the long term

staging

process of classifying tumors by how far the disease has progressed

lymphoma

malignancies affecting the lymphoid tissue

Hodgkin’s lymphoma

cancer of the immune system distinguished by the presence of large, cancerous lymphocytes known as Reed-Sternberg cells.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

refers to all lymphomas other than Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

breast cancer

carcinoma that develops from the cells of the breast

Ductal carcinoma in situ

breast cancer at its earliest stage before the cancer has broken through the wall of the milk duct.

Infiltrating ductal carcinoma

starts in the milk duct and invades the fatty breast tissue outside the duct.

inflammatory breast cancer

rare but aggressive form of breast cancer in which the cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast.

breast self-examination

self-care procedure for the early detection of breast cancer.

mammography

radiographic examination of the breasts to detect the presence of tumors or precancerous cells

lumpectomy

surgical removal of only the cancerous tissue with the surrounding margin of normal tissue

chemotherapy

use of chemical agents and drugs in combinations selected to destroy malignant cells and tissues.

teletherapy

radiation therapy administered at a distance from the body

cytomegalovirus

a type of herpes virus found in most body fluid; silent infection without any signs or symtoms