Immune System Review

A collection of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key concepts of the immune system as discussed in the lecture.

Immune System

Provides resistance to disease through two intrinsic systems: innate and adaptive.

Innate Defense System

Rapid but nonspecific defense against pathogens, constituting the first and second lines of defense.

First Line of Defense

External body membranes (skin and mucosae) that provide a physical barrier to microorganisms.

Second Line of Defense

Involves antimicrobial proteins, phagocytes, and inflammation to inhibit the spread of invaders.

Adaptive Defense System

Slower but highly specific system that attacks particular foreign substances.

Phagocytes

White blood cells that ingest and digest foreign invaders.

Neutrophils

The most abundant type of phagocytes that die fighting infections.

Macrophages

Chief phagocytic cells that develop from monocytes.

Natural Killer (NK) Cells

Large granular lymphocytes that kill cancer and virus-infected cells.

Inflammation

Triggered by injury; it prevents the spread of harmful agents and promotes healing.

Antimicrobial Proteins

Proteins that enhance innate defenses, including interferons and complement proteins.

Fever

Systemic response that raises body temperature to fight infection.

Humoral Immunity

Antibody-mediated immunity controlled by B cells.

Cellular Immunity

Immune response that involves T cells targeting intracellular pathogens.

Antigenic Determinants

Parts of an antigen that antibodies or lymphocyte receptors bind to.

Immunoglobulins (Igs)

Another name for antibodies; proteins secreted by plasma cells.

Primary Immune Response

Initial immune response to an antigen, characterized by a lag period before antibodies are produced.

Secondary Immune Response

Faster and more effective immune response upon re-exposure to the same antigen.

Active Humoral Immunity

Occurs when B cells encounter antigens and produce specific antibodies.

Passive Humoral Immunity

Occurs when ready-made antibodies are introduced into the body.

Autoimmune Disease

When the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells.

Hypersensitivities

Immune responses to perceived threats that cause tissue damage.