Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

1. Immunology > Cells of the Immune System > Flashcards

Cells of the Immune System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the immune system composed of?

A

Cells

Tissues

Organs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Where can cells of the innate immune system be found?

A

In the blood or in tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the two main types of blood cells?

A

Red and white blood cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the scientific name for red blood cells?

A

Erythrocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the scientific name for white blood cells?

A

Leukocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does whole blood consist of?

2

A

Plasma

Formed elements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the formed elements that make up whole blood?

A

Platelets

White blood cells

Red blood cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Name the five different types of white blood cells.

A

Neutrophils

Lymphocytes

Monocytes

Eosinophils

Basophils

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

List the white blood cells that make up the innate immune system.
(6)

A

Neutrophils

Eosinophils

Basophils

Monocytes

Dendritic cells

Natural killer cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What whit blood cells make up the adaptive immune system?

A

Lymphocytes - B and T

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

List the three granulocytes - granular wbcs.

A

Neutrophils

Eosinophils

Basophils

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

List the agranulocytes - agranular wbcs.

4

A

Monocytes

Dendritic cells

Natural killer cells

Lymphocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are polymorphonuclear granulocytes?

A

Granulocytes with multi-lobed nuclei

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is haematopoiesis?

A

The formation of blood cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What cells mature in the marrow?

3

A

Red blood cells

White blood cells

Platelets

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the most commonly used cell staining technique?

A

H&E staining

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does the H&E stand for?

A

Haematoxylin and eosin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is haematoxylin?

A

Basic dye that stains acidic structures blue/purple

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is eosin?

A

An acidic dye that stains basic structures in the cytoplasm red/pink

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Which part of the H&E stain dyes blue/purple?

A

Haematoxylin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Which part of the H&E stain dyes red/pink?

A

Eosin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How do neutrophils stain with H&E?

A

They don’t take up either H or E -> they are neutral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Write a note on neutrophils.

8

A

Polymorphonuclear granulocyte

3-5 lobes

Phagocytic

Most abundant immune cell type in the body

Slightly bigger than rbcs

They make puss yellow - involved in puss formation

Usually the first to arrive at an infection site

Most abundant immune cell - make up 50-70% of all leucocytes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What leukocyte is the most abundant?

A

Neutrophils

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What are the main roles of neutrophils? | 2
Phagocytosis - engulfing bacteria Formation of NETs
26
What percentage of leukocytes are neutrophils?
50-70% of leukocytes
27
How can neutrophils indicate infection?
Yellow pus - sputum - indicates infection - as neutrophils are what gives pus this yellow colour
28
What are NETs? | 2
Neutrophil extracellular traps Sticky webs released by neutrophils to capture bacteria
29
What is phagocytosis?
The engulfment and destruction of microorganism
30
How can you tell someone's sex by looking at their neutrophils? (2)
A "Barr-body" can be seen in a females neutrophils This is part of one of the two unused X chromosomes in females
31
Write a note on eosinophils. | 6
polymorphonuclear granulocytes 2-3 lobed nucleus Slightly larger than neutrophils - so they can fight parasites Indicators of a parasitic infection Indicator of allergies Capable of phagocytosis (can only take in one or two bacterial cells while neutrophils can take in many)
32
How many lobes do eosinophils have?
2-3 lobes
33
How do eosinophils stain with H&E?
Their granules are strongly stained with eosin
34
How do eosinophils fight parasites?
Eosinophils contain toxins in their granules which are released when a parasite is near
35
What does high levels of eosinophils indicate? | 2
Parasitic infection Allergies
36
Write a note on basophils. | 6
Polymorphonuclear granulocytes 2-3 lobed nucleus Affinity for haematoxylin/basic dyes Function unknown Circulate in blood Release chemicals that enhance inflammation (including histamine) Contain heparin, an anticoagulant
37
How many lobes do basophils have?
2-3 lobes
38
How do basophils dye with H&E?
Dyed with haematoxylin
39
What do basophils do? | 2
Release chemicals that enhance inflammation (including histamine) They contain heparin (anticoagulant)
40
What coagulant is found in basophils?
Heparin
41
Write a note on monocytes. | 7
Found in circulation Distinctive horseshoe-shaped nucleus No lobes Live for months Phagocytic Antigen-presenting cell Agranular cytoplasm
42
Where are monocytes found?
In circulation
43
Describe the nucleus of monocytes.
No lobes Horseshoe shaped
44
How long do monocytes live?
They live for months
45
What two things can monocytes do?
Phagocytosis Antigen presentation
46
How do monocytes present antigens?
Monocytes engulf foreign materials, break them down and then show peptides to T cells to see if an immune response is activated
47
Describe the cytoplasm of monocytes.
Agranular
48
What are monocytes often called?
Scavengers
49
Write a note on macrophages. | 9
Cells derived from blood monocytes Found in tissues Their name depends on their location in the body Name means 'big eater' - Voracious phagocytosis Live for months Antigen presenting cells Flattens out and becomes star shaped - form pseudopodia Can change shape and deform Has lots of lysosomes - break down of pathogens
50
What are macrophages often called?
Garbage disposal cells
51
What cells are often called scavengers?
Monocytes
52
What cells are often called garbage disposal cells?
Macrophages
53
What do macrophages do? | 3
Search for pathogens between tissues using their pseudopodia and ability to change shape They phagocytose any pathogens they find - breaking them down with lysosomes They present peptides that they have broken down to lymphocytes
54
Write a note on dendritic cells. | 5
Motile Phagocytic Best antigen present cell Resemble dendrites of nerve cells Different names depending on location in the body - e.g. Langerhans cells
55
How do dendritic cells present antigens? | 3
Dendritic cells display NHC molecules which contain peptides from invading organisms on their cell surface Dendritic cell then moves around to find the right T cell T cells dock with the dendritic cell and decide on a response
56
What cell gives rise to macrophages and dendritic cells?
Peripheral blood monocytes
57
Write a note on Lymphocytes. | 6
Two types: T cells and B cells Part of the acquired immune system Large, round nucleus Very little cytoplasm visible Perfectly round cell with round nucleus Unable to determine if a B or T lymphocyte using only a microscope
58
Write a note on T lymphocytes. | 3
Killers or Helpers Killers - tell infected cells to kill themselves by apoptosis Helper T cells coordinate immune responses - help make antibodies
59
How do killer T cells make other cells kill themselves?
Cells shrink and keep their contents inside
60
Write a note on B cells.
B cells become plasma cells which excrete antibodies
61
How do antibodies prevent covid infections?
Antibodies bind to spike proteins of covid which prevent the virus from binding to normal cells
62
Write a not on natural killer cells. | 4
Large granular lymphocytes Specialised type of lymphocyte Attack and kill virus-infected cells and cancerous cells Not specific - don't care what type of virus or what type of cancer
63
How do natural killer cells work? | 3
They approach all cells They feel the surface of the cell Is there anything there that shouldn't be? Has the cell been flagged with an antibody? If so, the natural killer cells cause the cells to kill themselves.
64
What is the main use of natural killer cells?
They can be used to treat cancers
65
Write a note on mast cells. | 6
Not found in circulation Immune system "gatekeepers" Located in the skin, mucosae and connective tissue Non-motile Release granules that contain chemicals that enhance inflammation such as histamine Activated by complement proteins and antibodies
66
What are mast cells often called?
"gatekeeper cells"
67
How do mast cells enhance inflammation?
mast cells release their granules that contain chemicals that enhance inflammation such as histamine
68
How do you remember the order of leukocytes from most abundant to least?
``` Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas ``` ``` Neutrophils Lymphocytes Monocytes Eosinophils Basophils ```
69
What percentage of leukocytes are neutrophils?
40-75%
70
What percentage of leukocytes are eosinophils?
1-6%
71
What percentage of leukocytes are basophils?
Less than 1%
72
What percentage of leukocytes are monocytes?
2-10%
73
What percentage of leukocytes are lymphocytes?
20-50%
74
What do CD molecules stand for?
Cluster of differentiation molecules
75
What do immunologists use CD molecules for?
To differentiate between cells
76
How do immunologists use CD molecules to differentiate between cells?
On the basis that different cells express different molecules on their cell surfaces
77
How are CD molecules names?
They are named with only a number in the order in which they were found
78
How many CD molecules are there to date?
371 CD molecules
79
What CD molecules do T cells express?
CD3
80
What CD molecules are expressed by natural killer cells?
CD56
81
What CD molecules are expressed by B cells?
CD20

1. Immunology (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions