Chapter 6

Question 1

Lymphatic system

Answer 1

System that transports lymph through the body.

Question 2

Lymph

Answer 2

Tissue fluid that has entered a lymphatic vessel.

Question 3

Lymph node

Answer 3

Small nodules of lymphatic tissue spaced throughout the lymphatic system that help clean lymph of debris.

Question 4

Lymphocytes

Answer 4

A response to foreign microorganisms that occurs with
repeated exposure and results in resistance to a disease.

Question 5

T-cell

Answer 5

The cells of the immune system that produce immunity.

Question 6

B-cell

Answer 6

The type of lymphocytes that attacks invading microorganisms.

Question 7

Natural killer (NK) cells

Answer 7

The type of lymphocytes that attacks invading organisms.

Question 8

Thymus

Answer 8

An organ located near the heart that secretes thymosin and thus processes and activates T-cells.

Question 9

Thymosin

Answer 9

A hormone produced by the thymus.

Question 10

Tonsils

Answer 10

Masses of lymphatic tissue located in the pharynx.

Question 11

Spleen

Answer 11

A large organ near the stomach that serves as a repository for lymphocytes and red blood cells

Question 12

Phagocytosis

Answer 12

The process of engulfing and killing foreign particles.

Question 13

Granulocytes

Answer 13

A type of lymphocytes that acts rapidly to kill invading
organisms.

Question 14

Macrophages

Answer 14

A type of lymphocytes that attacks invading organisms.

Question 15

Inflammation

Answer 15

A general immune system response that works to restore
damaged tissue.

Question 16

Plasma cells

Answer 16

Cells, derived from B-cells, that secrete antibodies.

Question 17

Antibodies

Answer 17

Protein substances produced in response to a specific invader or antigen, marking it for destruction and thus creating immunity to that invader.

Question 18

Antigens

Answer 18

Substances that provoke the immune system to produce antibodies.

Question 19

Immunity

Answer 19

A response to foreign microorganisms that occurs with repeated exposure and results in resistance to a disease.

Question 20

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Answer 20

An immune deficiency caused by viral infection and resulting in vulnerability to a wide range of bacterial, viral, and malignant diseases.

Question 21

Autoimmune diseases

Answer 21

Disorders that occur as a result of the immune
system’s failure to differentiate between body cells and foreign cells, resulting in the body’s attack and destruction of its own cells.

Question 22

Psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 22

A multidisciplinary field that focuses on the interactions among behavior, the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system.

Question 23

Cytokines

Answer 23

Chemical messengers secreted by cells in the immune system, forming a communication link between the nervous and immune systems.

Question 24

Proinflammatory cytokines

Answer 24

A chemical secreted by the immune system that promotes inflammation, and is associated with feelings of sickness, depression, and social withdrawal.

Question 25

Diathesis-stress model

Answer 25

A theory of stress that suggests that some individuals are vulnerable to stress-related illnesses because they are genetically predisposed to those illnesses

Question 26

Telomere

Answer 26

A region at the end of a chromosome where repetitive nucleotide sequences appear acting as a protective cap and preventing chromosomes from deterioration

Question 27

Diabetes Mellitus

Answer 27

A disorder caused by insulin deficiency

Question 28

Asthma

Answer 28

A chronic disease that causes constriction of the bronchial tubes, preventing air from passing freely and causing wheezing and difficulty breathing during attacks

Question 29

Rheumatoid arthritis

Answer 29

An autoimmune disorder characterized by a dull ache within or around a joint

Question 30

Post traumatic stress disorder

Answer 30

An anxiety disorder caused by experience with an extremely traumatic event and characterized by recurrent and intrusive reexperiencing of the event

Question 31

How does the immune system function?

Answer 31

The immune system consists of tissues, organs, and processes that protect the body from invasion by foreign material such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The immune system marshals both a non- specific response capable of attacking any invader and a specific response tailored to specific invad- ers. The immune system can also be a source of problems when it is deficient (as in HIV infection)
or when it is too active (as in allergies and autoim- mune diseases).

Question 32

How does the field of psychoneuroimmunology relate behavior to disease?

Answer 32

The field of psychoneuroimmunology relates behavior to illness by finding relationships among behavior, the central nervous system, the immune system, and the endocrine system. Psychological factors can depress immune function, and some research has linked these factors with immune system depression and severity of physiological symptoms.

Question 33

Does stress cause disease?

Answer 33

Research indicates that stress and illness are related, but as the diathesis–stress model holds, individuals must have some vulnerability for stress to cause disease. Stress is a moderate risk factor for headache and infectious disease. The role of stress in heart disease is complex; reactivity to stress may be involved in hypertension and the devel- opment of cardiovascular disease. Most ulcers can be traced to a bacterial infection rather than stress. The experience of stress is one of the many factors that contributes to psychological and mood disor- ders, but the route through which stress influences the development of these disorders may also be through the immune system.