CH 7 GLOSSARY Flashcards
Active immunity
immunity produced by the body manufacturing antibodies against a foreign antigen
agglutination
the clumping together of micro-organisms or cells
antibiotic
a chemical able to inhibit the growth of, or to kill, micro-organism, particularly bacteria
antibody
a substance produced in response to a specific antigen; combines with the antigen to neutralise or destroy it
antigen
any substance capable of causing the formation of antibodies when introduced into the tissues
antigen-antibody complex
a compound formed when an antibody combines with an antigen
antigen-presenting cells
phagocytic cells that digest pathogens and present the antigen to lymphocytes; include dendritic cells and macrophages
antiviral drug
drug used for the treatment of viral infections
artificial immunity
immunity produced by giving a person an antigen, which triggers the immune response, or by giving them antibodies to an infecting antigen
attenuated
describes micro-organisms that have been reduced in virulence
bacteria
unicellular, prokaryotic organisms with a cell wall but lacking membrane-bound organelles and an organised nucleus; singular: bacterium
bactericidal antibiotic
a drug used to treat bacterial infections by killing the bacteria
bacteriophage
a virus that infects bacteria
bacteriostatic antibiotic
a drug used to treat bacterial infections: it does not kill the bacteria but stops them reproducing
b-cell
a type of lymphocyte that develops into either a plasma cell that produces antibodies or a memory cell
broad-spectrum antibiotic
an antibiotic that affects many types of bacteria
cell-mediated response
the part of the immune response in which t-cells attach to antigens to destroy them; also called cellular immunity
cerumen
ear wax; secreted by special glands near the opening of the ear canal
cilia
hair-like projections from a cell; they beat rhythmically to move material across a tissue surface; singular: cilium
clone
a group of cells with the same genetic characteristics
communicable disease
a disease passed from one person to another by infection with micro-organisms; also called an infectious or transmissible disease
complement system
system of proteins produced by the liver that enhance the activity of antibodies and phagocytes
contagious
a disease passed on by direct human contact
cytokines
small proteins that are released in response to antigens and act as messengers in the immune response
dendritic cell
an antigen-presenting cell, names due to the branch-like extensions from the cytoplasm
fever
an elevation of body temperature above the normal level of 37ºC
heparin
a substance that helps to prevent blood clotting
herd immunity
a type of ‘group’ immunity that occurs when such a high proportion of people in a population are immunised that those who are not immune are protected
histamine
a substance released in response to injury to cells; it results in an increase in blood flow
humoral response
a response triggered by foreign substances or micro-organisms entering the body, involving b-cells and the production of antibodies; also known as antibody-mediated immunity
immune response
a response triggered by foreign substances or micro-organisms entering the body
immune system
different types of ells that occur in most organs of the body and that protect against foreign organisms, alien chemicals and abnormal cells
immunisation
programming the immune system so that the body can respond rapidly to infecting micro-organisms
immunity
resistance to infection from invading micro-organisms
immunoglobulin
a particular group of proteins; antibodies are immunoglobulin
inflammation
response to damage to a tissue; involves swelling, heat, pain and redness in the affected area
interferon
any of several proteins that are produce3d by cells as a defensive response to viral infection, preventing the replication of the virus
interleukin-1
a pyrogen produced primarily by macrophages
killer t-cell
a type of t-lymphocyte able to kill cells that are damaged or infected with the virus or bacteria; also called cytotoxic t-cell
leucocyte
a white blood cell; also spelt leukocyte
lymphatic system
a system of vessels that train excess fluid from the tissues; also called the lymph system
lymphocyte
a white blood cell that is responsible for the immune response
lymphoid tissue
tissue containing many lymphocytes and macrophages; found mostly in the lymph nodes but also in the bone marrow, tonsils, spleen and thymus
lysozyme
an enzyme that kills bacteria; found in tears, saliva and perspiration
macrophage
a phagocytic cell derived from a monocyte (a type of white blood cell)
mast cell
a type of cell found in loose connective tissue; involved in the inflammatory response
memory cell
a type of cell that recognises an antigen to which the body has previously been exposed
monocyte
a type of leucocyte found in the blood that migrates into damaged tissue and forms macrophages
mucous membrane
an epithelial tissue that secretes mucous and lines many body cavities
mucus
a slippery, stringy substance produced by mucous membranes
multiple drug resistance
resistance of some strains of bacteria to most of the available antibiotics
narrow-spectrum antibiotic
antibiotic that affects only a particular type of bacteria
nasal cavity
the large air-filled cavity above and behind the nose
natural immunity
immunity that occurs without any human intervention
neutrophil
a granulated leucocyte with a multilobar nucleus that is phagocytotic
non-self antigen
any compound foreign to the body that triggers an immune response
non-specific defence
defence of the body that acts against all pathogens
passive immunity
immunity produced by the introduction of antibodies from another person
pathogen
a disease-causing organism; often referred to as a pathogenic organism
phagocyte
cells that are able to engulf micro-organisms and cell debris
plasma cell
a cell that develops from a b-cell and produces antibodies
plasmid
in a bacterial cell, small circular strands of DNA distinct from the main bacterial genome; composed of only a few genes and able to replicate independently within cells
primary response
the response of the immune system to the first exposure to an antigen
prokaryote
a single-celled organism lacking a distinct nucleus or specialised organelles
pyrogen
a substance that results in fever
recombinant DNA
synthetic DNA; made by inserting genes from one source into a DNA molecule from a different source
sebum
an oily, waxy secretion from the sebaceous glands
secondary response
the response to a second or subsequent exposure to an antigen; the secondary response is faster and more intense than the primary response
self-antigen
any large molecule produced in a person’s own body; does not cause an immune response in that person
specific defence
defence of the body that is directed against a specific pathogen
suppressor t-cell
a type of t-cell that helps to slow down the immune response
sweat
the liquid produced by the sweat glands in the skin
t-cell
a lymphocyte that can differentiate into a number of different kinds of cell, all of which are involved in cell-mediated immunity
total drug resistance
the resistance of some strains of bacteria to all antibiotics
toxoid
a toxin from a pathogenic organism that is altered so that they acquire immunity without suffering form the illness
vaccination
the introduction of antigens to a person so that they acquire immunity without suffering from the illness
vaccine
an antigen preparation used in artificial immunisation
vasodilation
an increase in the diameter of arterioles, increasing the flow of blood through them
vector
an agent such as an insect capable of transferring a disease-causing organism from one person to another
virulence
the disease-producing power of a micro-organism
virus
as an infectious agent, too small to be seen with a light microscope, consisting of a protein sheath surrounding a core of nucleic acid; viruses are totally dependent on living cells for reproduction
