procedures and pharmacology: lymphatic and immune

Question 1

antinuclear antibody test

Answer 1

blood test assist, and diagnosis of auto immune diseases; antinuclear (against the nucleus) antibodies (ANAs) are produced by persons with autoimmune disease; presence of these antibodies in blood indicates that person’s immune system is attacking body’s cells

Question 2

HIV antigen/antibody immunoassay

Answer 2

blood test for HIV infection; test for both HIV antigens and antibodies; foreign vital proteins can be detected very shortly after exposure, and antibiotics produced by body in response to HIV infection can be detected 2 to 8 weeks after exposure; antibody only test can also be perform using saliva

Question 3

lymphangiography

Answer 3

process of recording lymph vessels after injection of dye into foot; lymph flow through to the chest is traced; x-ray image produced is lymphangiogram

Question 4

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 4

use of electromagnetic energy to produce image of soft tissue in any plane of body; atoms behave differently when placed in strong magnetic field; when body is exposed to the magnetic field, nuclei of body’s atoms emit radio-frequency signals that can be used to create an image

Question 5

monospot

Answer 5

blood test for infectious mononucleosis

Question 6

skin allergy testing

Answer 6

form of allergy testing in which the body is exposed to allergens through light scratch, injection, patch, or prick on skin

Question 7

allergy shot

Answer 7

type of immunotherapy; person receives regular injections of tiny amounts of allergen to which they are allergic; injection is too small to cause allergic reaction but large enough to stimulate immune system; over time, person’s sensitivity to allergen reduces

Question 8

immunotherapy

Answer 8

medical treatment that gives patient an injection of immunoglobulins or antibodies in order to treat disease; antibodies may be produced by another person or animal, for example, antivenom for snake bites; more recent developments include treatments to boost activity of immune system, especially to treat cancer and aids

Question 9

vaccination

Answer 9

exposure to (usually by injection) a killed or weakened pathogen or to a unique substance produced by the pathogen; stimulates immune response and antibody production; results in protection against full-blown disease; also called immunization

Question 10

adenoidectomy

Answer 10

surgical removal of adenoids

Question 11

lymphadenectomy

Answer 11

surgical removal of lymph node; usually done to test for malignancy

Question 12

splenectomy

Answer 12

surgical removal of spleen

Question 13

thymectomy

Answer 13

surgical removal of thymus gland

Question 14

tonsillectomy

Answer 14

surgical removal of tonsils

Question 15

antihistamine

Answer 15

blocks effects of histamine released by body during allergic reaction

Question 16

corticosteroids

Answer 16

natural or synthetic adrenal cortex hormone; provides very strong anti-inflammatory properties; particularly useful in treating autoimmune diseases

Question 17

immunosuppressants

Answer 17

Block certain actions of immune system; required to prevent injection of transplanted organ

Question 18

nasal steroids

Answer 18

nose spray; reduces inflammation and treats symptoms of nasal rhinitis

Question 19

protease inhibitor drug

Answer 19

inhibit protease, an enzyme that viruses need to reproduce

Question 20

reverse transcriptase inhibitor drugs

Answer 20

Inhibit reverse transcriptase, an enzyme needed by viruses to reproduce