Immune System Flashcards
What is the immune system?
Body’s defence mechanism
Response to invasion of foreign substances
Functional components of the immune system?
(Doesn’t need to be in order)
Primary-thymus,bone marrow
Secondary- Tonsils,adenoids, spleen, Peterson patches, appendix
Lymphoid
Lymphocytes
Antibodies
Macrophages
What is an adenoid?
Lymph nodes located in the throat and behind the nose
What is the Thymus?
Behind the sternum and between lungs
only active until puberty
involved in training and development of T cells
What is Peterson patches?
Aggregations of lymphoid tissue usually found in the lowest part of the small intestine (ileum)
Major functions of the immune system?
Protects body against foreign organisms
Maintains homeostasis by eliminating damaged cells
Battles infections
What is Immunocompetent?
Appropriate Response to an antigen; maintenance of homeostasis
Vs immunoincompetence (immunocompromised)
Inappropriate immune system responses?
Allergies-Excessive response
Immunodeficient (ex: AIDS) - inadequate response
Autoimmune(ex: Systematic Lupus)- Misdirect response to ones own tissues
Transplant Rejection- Attack to beneficial foreign tissues
T-cell and B -cell formation
Bone marrow= B cell
Thymus= T cell
T lymphocyte cells include:
Cytotoxic C cells: Destroys virus-infected cells or tumor cells
Helper T Cells: stimulate B cells and activate Cytotoxic T cells and produce more antibodies
Suppressor T cells: moderate immune response by inhibiting B and T cells
Memory T cells: are reactivated only by reposture to previous antigen
B lymphocyte cells include:
Remaining stem cells develop into B cells
B cells produce antibody-mediated immunity, protects body against bacterial and viral infections
Memory B cells: reactivated only by re-exposure to previous antigen
Plasma cells: Secrete antibodies that attach to antigens
Main difference between B & T cells?
B cells attack invaders outside cell VS
T cells attack invaders inside the cell
Immunodeficiency diseases?
B cell deficiency- more prone to bacterial infections
T cell deficiency- more prone to fungal & viral infections
Some conditions are genetic and present at birth or acquired
Etiology of acquired immunoincompetence: bacterial or viral insult; malnutrition; exposure to radiation or certain drugs
Severity depends on type of cells affected
What is AIDS?
Progressive impairment of the immune system caused by HIV
Affects many organ systems
Diagnosis: presence of HIV antibodies in the blood ( Common test- ELISA, confirmation- Western blot)
Etiology: HIV attacks helper T lymphocytes; reduces cell-mediated immunity, attacks nervous system directly
How is AIDS spread?
Direct contact of blood or semen
Transmitted through blood and blood products
Infants of mothers who are infected contract in utero;
Sharing needles
Signs and symptoms of AIDS?
Flu like symptoms within 1-4 weeks following exposure:
sore throat, fever, body aches
Weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea and night sweats with disease progression
Decrease in T cells- frequent infections including pneumonia, fever, malignancies
Later stages- encephalopathy and malignancy leads to dementia and death
AIDS therapy?
Highly active antiviral therapy (HAART)
Many drug combinations can be used
Prophylactic antibodies used in the later stages of disease
Currently no cure; prevention is key
Role of OT & PT with AIDS patient?
MMT
Pain management
Memory strategies
ADL modifications
Relaxation techniques
Energy conservation skills
What is Autoimmune syndrome?
Lymphocytes and antibodies are sensitized to develop against the body’s own organs or tissues
May be triggered by disease, injury, metabolic changes, mutation in immunologically competent cells
May be caused by certain drugs or chemicals, trauma or viral infection
What is Pernicious Anemia?
Impaired absorption of B12 and B12 deficiency due to decreased gastric production of hydrochloride acid
Etiology: associated with other autoimmune diseases; antiparietal cell antibodies which are cytotoxic to the parietal cells
Diagnosis: blood/lab tests
Treatment: consists of monthly intramuscular injections of vitamin B12 during the persons entire lifetime
Symptoms of pernicious anemia?
Weakness/numbness/ tingling in extremities
Altered vision
Light headedness
Tinnitus
Palpations
Weight loss
Digestive disturbances
Sore tongue
Signs of pernicious anemia?
Decreased red blood cells
Decreased hemoglobin levels
Jaundice
Optic nerve atrophy
Decreased amount of gastric acid
What is a connective tissue disorder?
200+ types
Connective tissues support, bind and protect organs
Composed of elastin and collagen
Many connective tissue disorders feature atypical immune system activity with inflammation in tissues as a result of an immune system directed against ones own body tissues (autoimmunity)
Connective tissue diseases?
Systematic lupus erthematosus
Scleroderma
Rheumatoid arthritis
Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis
Polymyositis
What is SLE( systematic lupus erthematosus)?
Commonly known as lupus
Chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder
Affects any organ or body system
Signs and symptoms of lupus?
Inability to produce antibodies against different types of tissues including red blood cells, platelets, lymphocytes or any organ or tissue in the body
Fevers
Fatigue
Joint pain and swelling
Butterfly rash
Protein or casts in urine
Hemolytic anemia
Abnormal blood antibodies
Leukocytes present in lab testing
OTPT interventions?
Education: pacing and joint protection
Maintenance of skin integrity
Pain management
Cognitive remediation or compensation
ROM
ergonomic and postural education
