Immunology: Immune Systems (Pt. 1)

Question 1

Immune System

Answer 1

The immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs throughout the body that work together to protect the body against pathogens.

Question 2

Pathogens

Answer 2

Anything that can damage the body including viruses, bacteria, toxins, or cancerous cells.

Question 3

What is a major participant of the immune system?

Answer 3

Many of the functions of the immune system are carried out by white blood cells called lymphocytes.

Question 4

Where can lymphocytes be found?

Answer 4

These cells are concentrated throughout the body in organs of the lymphatic system: lymph nodes, tonsils, thymus gland, and spleen.

Question 5

Immunology

Answer 5

The branch of medicine that diagnoses and treats condition involving the immune system.

Question 6

What are some conditions that immunologist typically treat?

Answer 6

• Allergies
• Immunodeficiency Disorders
• Autoimmune Disease
• Cancers of the Immune System

Question 7

Allergist

Answer 7

An immunologist who has specialized training in treating allergies.

Question 8

adenoid/o

Answer 8

adenoids

Question 9

immun/o

Answer 9

protection

Question 10

lymph/o

Answer 10

lymph

Question 11

lymphaden/o

Answer 11

lymph node

Question 12

lymphangi/o

Answer 12

lymph vessel

Question 13

path/o

Answer 13

disease

Question 14

phag/o

Answer 14

eating

Question 15

splen/o

Answer 15

spleen

Question 16

thym/o

Answer 16

thymus

Question 17

tonsill/o

Answer 17

tonsils

Question 18

cortic/o

Answer 18

cortex

Question 19

cyt/o

Answer 19

cell

Question 20

system/o

Answer 20

system

Question 21

List the organs commonly treated in immunology…

Answer 21

• Tonsils
• Lymphatic Vessels
• Lymph Nodes
• Thymus Gland
• Spleen

Question 22

Adenoids

Answer 22

This is the commonly used term for pharyngeal cells, located on back wall of upper throat.

Question 23

Lymph

Answer 23

• The clear fluid collected from tissues of the body by lymphatic vessels
• Flows through vessels to be returned to venous circulation.

Question 24

Why is the combining form lymphaden/o a misnomer?

Answer 24

The simple translation of this combining form is “lymph gland,” however these organs are not actually glands.

Question 25

Lymph Nodes

Answer 25

Small roundish organs – not glands – located along the path of lymphatic vessels that house lymphocytes and other white blood cells.

Question 26

What happens to the lymph that passes through lymph nodes?

Answer 26

As lymph passes through the lymph nodes its cells are able to remove pathogens and damaged cells.

Question 27

Lymph Vessels

Answer 27

Vessels that pick up excess fluid from tissues and return it to circulatory system.

Question 28

Why are some leukocytes important to the immune system?

Answer 28

Some leukocytes, such as monocytes, are important to immune system because they are able to engulf or “eat” pathogens or damaged cells.

Question 29

Spleen

Answer 29

An organ in the lymphatic system, located on left side of upper abdomen, which houses leukocytes responsible for filtering blood and destroying worn-out red blood cells.

Question 30

Thymus Gland

Answer 30

A gland, located in mediastinum behind sternum, which is necessary in early life for proper development of immune system – by puberty has begun to shrink.

Question 31

Tonsils

Answer 31

Contain lymphatic tissue that protects body from pathogens in air breathed and food eaten.

Three sets located in throat:

• Palatine
• Pharyngeal
• Lingual