| A | B |
|---|
| Acquired immunity | Formation of antibodies and lymphocytes after exposure to an antigen. |
| Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) | Depression or suppression of the immune system after exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); marked by opportunistic infections secondary neoplasms and neurologic problems. |
| Adenoids | Masses of lymphatic tissue in the nasopharynx. |
| Allergen | Substance capable of causing a specific hypersensitivity in a body; an antigen. |
| Allergy | Abnormal hypersensitivity acquired by exposure to an antigen (allergen). |
| Anaphylaxis | Exaggerated or unusual hypersensitivity to foreign protein or other substance. |
| Antibody | Protein produced in the bloodstream by lymphocytes in response to a specific antigen such as a bacterium or toxin. Antibodies destroy or weaken antigens. |
| Atopy | Intense allergic reaction (such as asthma) influenced by hereditary tendency or predisposition. |
| Autoimmune disease | Chronic disabling disease caused by the abnormal production of antibodies to normal body tissues; multiple sclerosis lupus erythematosus are examples. |
| Axillary node | Lymph node under the arm. |
| B cell | A lymphocyte that originates in bone marrow and transforms into a plasma cell to secrete antibodies. |
| CD4+ cells | Helper T cells that carry the CD4+ protein antigen on their surface. |
| Cell-mediated immunity | Type of immune response that involves T cell lymphocytes. These lymphocytes act directly on antigens to destroy them. |
| Cervical node | Lymph node in the neck. |
| Cytokine | Protein that aids cells to destroy antigens. Examples are interleukins and interferons. |
| Cytotoxic T cell | T cell lymphocyte that directly kills foreign cells; T8 cell. |
| Dendritic cell | A type of macrophage that captures antigens and presents them to T cells for destruction. |
| ELISA | Test to detect anti-HIV antibodies in blood. This is a screening test for AIDS. |
| Helper T cell | Lymphocyte that aids a B cell lymphocyte in recognizing antigens and stimulating antibody production. |
| Hodgkin disease | Malignant tumor of lymphatic tissue in the spleen and lymph nodes. |
| Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) | Virus (retrovirus) that causes AIDS. |
| Humoral immunity | Type of immune response in which a B cell lymphocyte transforms into a plasma cell and secretes antibodies. |
| Hypersensitivity | Abnormal condition characterized by an exaggerated response of the immune system to an antigen. |
| Hypersplenism | Syndrome of spleen enlargement (splenomegaly) and destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis). (associated with anemia leukopenia and thrombocytopenia). |
| Immune response | The body’s capability to resist foreign organisms and toxins that can damage tissue and organs. |
| Immunoelectrophoresis | Laboratory test that separates immunoglobulins (IgG IgM IgD IgE and IgA). |
| Immunoglobulins | Antibodies (proteins) secreted by B-cell lymphocytes (plasma cells). |
| Immunosuppression | Blocking or turning off (Suppression) the normal immune response. |
| Immunotherapy | Use of immunologic techniques to treat disease. |
| Inguinal node | Lymph node in the groin region. |
| Interferons | Anti-viral proteins secreted by lymphocytes. |
| Interleukins | Proteins (cytokines) that stimulate the immune system including B & T cell lymphocytes. |
| Interstitial fluid | Fluid that fills the spaces in between cells. |
| Kaposi sarcoma | Malignant tumor of skin and connective tissue; associated with AIDS. |
| Lymph | Fluid that circulates within lymph vessels and lymph nodes. |
| Lymphadenitis | Inflammation of lymph nodes. |
| Lymphadenopathy | Disease of lymph glands/nodes. |
| Lymph capillaries | Tiny lymph vessels that carry lymph through the body. |
| Lymphedema | Swelling of tissue due to accumulation of lymph fluid in intercellular spaces. |
| Lymph node | Mass of stationary lymphatic tissue along the path of lymph vessels. |
| Lymphocytes | White blood cells that develop primarily in lymph nodes and the spleen and fight against foreign organisms. |
| Lymphocytosis | Increase in numbers of lymphocytes. |
| Lymphocytopenia | Deficiency of lymphocytes. |
| Lymphoid organs | Organs containing and derived from lymphatic tissue; spleen thymus gland and lymph nodes. |
| Lymphoma | Malignant tumor of lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue. |
| Lymphopoiesis | Formation of lymphocytes. |
| Lymph vessels | Carry lymph throughout the body. |
| Macrophage | Large phagocyte found in lymphatic tissues and connective tissues; derived from a monocyte. |
| Mediastinal node | Lymph node in the mediastinum (central area between the lungs in the chest). |
| Monoclonal antibody | Antibody produced in a laboratory to attack specific antigens. |
| Multiple myeloma | Malignant tumor of bone marrow cells (plasma cells that produce immunoglobulins). |
| Natural immunity | Person’s own genetic ability to fight off disease. It includes phagocytes and lymphocytes such as natural killer cells. |
| Natural killer cell | Lymphocyte that recognizes and destroys foreign cells by releasing proteins called cytokines. |
| Non-Hodgkin lymphoma | Malignant tumor of cells (lymphocytes and large macrophages called histocytes) found in lymph nodes and spleen |
| Protease inhibitor (PI) | Drug used to treat AIDS by blocking production of protease, an enzyme that helps HIV to reproduce. |
| Opportunistic infections | Infectious diseases associated with AIDS; toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, herpes simplex, and Pneumocystosis carinii pneumonia (PCP). |
| Plasma cell | B cell lymphocyte that secretes antibodies. |
| Retrovirus | Virus that makes copies of itself using the host cell’s DNA, a process that is the reverse of the normal replication mechanism in cells. HIV is a retrovirus. |
| Reverse transcriptase inhibitor | Drug used to treat AIDS by blocking an enzyme (reverse transcriptor), needed to make copies of HIV. |
| Right lymphatic duct | Receives lymph from the right side of the body and empties lymph into a vein in the neck. |
| Spleen | Organ adjacent to the stomach (in the LUQ) that produces, stores, and eliminates blood cells. |
| Splenectomy | Removal of the spleen. |
| Splenomegaly | Enlargement of the spleen. |
| Suppressor T cell | Lymphocyte that inhibits the activity of B and T cell lymphocytes. |
| T cell | Lymphocyte originating in the thymus gland and destroys antigens by direct action or production of cytokines such as interferons and interleukins. |
| Thoracic duct | Large lymphatic vessel in the upper chest. |
| Thymectomy | Removal of the thymus gland. |
| Thymoma | Malignant tumor of the thymus gland. |
| Thymus gland | Lymphoid organ in the mediastinum that produces T cell lymphocytes and aids in the immune response. |
| Tonsils | Masses of lymphatic tissue on either side of the back of the mouth. |
| Toxic | Pertaining to a toxin, which is a poison or harmful substance. |
| Toxins | Poison or harmful substance. |
| Vaccination | Introduction of a vaccine (containing dead or weakened antigen) to produce immunity. It is a type of acquired immunity. |
| Vaccine | Weakened or dead antigens to induce antibody production. |
| Viral load test | Measures the amount of HIV in the blood stream. |
| Wasting syndrome | Weight loss and decrease in muscle strength, appetite, and mental activity that occurs with AIDS. |
| Western blot | Specific test to detect presence of anti-HIV antibodies in the bloodstream. |
| autoimmune disease | Chronic, disabling disease in which the body produces antibodies against its own tissues. Examples are rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. |
| Lymphoid | Derived from lymph tissue. |
