| A | B |
|---|
| allergist | specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of altered immunologic reactivity such as allergic reactions |
| hematologist | specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the blood and blood-forming tissues |
| immunologist | specialist in the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the immune system |
| oncologist | specialist in diagnosing and treating malignant disorders such as tumors and cancer |
| immun | protected |
| ologist | specialist |
| onc | tumor |
| functions of lymphatic system | absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive systema dn transport them to the cells; return cellular waste products and excess fluid from the tissues to the circulatory system; serve as part of the immune system |
| intercellular fluid ((tissue fluid) (interstitial fluid) | plasma that flows out of the capillaries of the circulatory system into the spaces between the cells which carries food, oxygen, and hormones to the cells |
| lymph fluid (lymph) | intercellular fluid as it returns to the venous circulatory system; removes waste products from the cells; must be filtered by the lymph nodes before it reenters the circulatory system |
| lymph capillaries | microscopic thin-walled tubes located just under the skin carry lymph fluid from the tissues to the larger lymnphatic vessels |
| lymphatic vessels | have valves to prevent the backward flow of fluid; lymph always flows toward the thoracic cavity |
| right lymphatic duct and the throacic duct | empty lymph into veins in the upper thoracic region |
| lacteals | specialized lymph capillaries located in the villi of the small intestine where fats and fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed and carried into the bloodstream |
| lymph nodes | bean-shaped structures located in lymph vessels that provide a site for lymphocyte production; filter lymph to remove harmful substances such as bacteria, viruses, and malignant cells |
| swollen lymph nodes | indicate a disease process |
| tonsils | masses of lymphatic tissue that form a protective ring around the nose and upper throat |
| cervical lymph nodes | located in the neck |
| axillary lymph nodes | located under the arms |
| inguinal lymph nodes | located in the inguinal (groin) area of the lower abdomen |
| vermiform appendix | lymphatic tissue that hangs from the lower portion of the cecum of the large intestine |
| Peyer's patches | small bundles of lymphatic tissue located on the walls of the ileum of the small intestine |
| spleen | saclike mass of lymphatic tissue located in the LUQ of the abdomen inferior to the diaphragm and posterior to the stomach |
| spleen | filters microorganisms and other foreign material from the blood; forms lymphocytes and monocytes; hemolytic; stores extra RBC and maintains the appropriate balance between the RBC and plasma in the circulation |
| hemolytic | removes and destroys worn-out RBCs |
| Thymus | located superior to the heart;composed of lymphatic tissue; plays important roles in the endocrine and immune system |
| Lymphadenitis (swollen glands) | inflammation of the lymph nodes |
| lymphaden | lymph node |
| Lymphadenopathy | any disease process usually involving enlargement of the lymph nodes |
| Persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) | continued presence of enlarged lymph nodes; often an indication of the presence of a malignancy or deficiency in immune system function |
| lymphangiogram | radiographic study of the lymphatic vessels and nodes with the use of a contrast medium to make the structures visible |
| lymphangioma | benign abnormal collection of lymphatic vessels forming a mass |
| Lymphedema | abnormal accumulation of lymphatic fluid that causes swelling usually in the arms or legs |
| Primary lymphedema | hereditary disorder; may occur at any time in life; can affect any limbs |
| Secondary lymphedema | caused by identifiable factors such as the surgical removal or radiation of the lymph nodes in the treatment of cancer which affects the limb nearest the treatment |
| Splenomegaly | enlargement of the spleeen |
| Splenorrhagia | bleeding from the spleen |
| Functions of the immune system | to protect the body from harmful substances including pathogens, allergens, toxins, and malignant cells |
| First role of the immune system | to prevent foreign substances from entering the body |
| Intact skin | wraps the body in a physical barrier that prevents invading organisms from entering the body |
| intact | no cuts, scrapes, or open sores |
| Respiratory system | traps breathed-in foreign matter with nose hairs and the moist mucous membranes that line the respiratory system; coughing and sneezing help expel foreign matter from the respiratory system |
| Digestive system | uses the acids and enzymes produced by the stomach to destroy invaders that are swallowed or consumed with food |
| lymphatic system | essential components in fighting invaders once they have entered the body |
| First lines of defense | 1. intact skin, 2. respiratory system, 3. digestive system, 4. lymphatic system |
| antigen | any substance such as a virus, bacterium, toxin, or tissue that the body regards as foreign; antigens stimulate an immune response |
| antibody (Ab) | disease-fighting proteincreated by the immune system in response to the presence of that specific antigen |
| antigen-antibody reaction (immune reaction) | binding these foreign antigens to antibodies to rorm antigen-antibody complexes which tags the potentially dangerous antigen so that it can be recognized and destroyed by other cells of the immune system |
| Lymphocytes | WBCs that specialize so they can attack specific microorganisms; formed in bone marrow as stem cells |
| 2 major classes of lymphocytes | B cells and T cells |
| B cell (B lymphocyte) | designed to make only one specific antibody against a specific antigen; are most effective against viruses and bacteria circulating in the blood |
| Immunoglobulin | synonym for antibody |
| Plasma cells | produce and secrete antibodies coded to match the antigen which enables the body to destroy the antigen in the antigen-antibody response |
| Complement | complex series of proteins that normally circulate in the blood in an inactive form; activated on contact with an antigen; aid the antibodies by puncturing the cell membrane of the antigen (these proteins "complement" the work of antibodies in destroying bacteria) |
| T cells (T lymphocytes) | small circulating lymphocytes that have traveled to the thymus; mature as a result of their exposure to thymosin (hormone secreted by the thymus) |
| T cells contribute to the immune defense in 2 major ways: | 1. Regulatory T celss coordinate immune defenses; 2. Cytotoxic T cells kill infected cells on contact |
| Interferon | produced by the T cells; family of proteins released by cells when invaded by a virus; causes the non-infected cells to form an intiviral protein that slows or stops viral multiplication; grouped into 3 categories: 1. alpha, 2. beta, and 3. gamma |
| Lymphokines | produced by the T cells; direct the immune response by signaling between the cells of the immune system; attract macrophages to the infected site and prepare them to attack |
| macrophage | type of phagocyte; protects the body by ingesting (eating) invading cells and by interacting with the other cells of the immune system |
| phagocyte | large WBC that can ingest (eat) and destroy substances such as cell debris, dust, pollen, and pathogens |
| Immunity | state of being resistant or not susceptible to a specific disease |
| Natural immunity | passed from mother to fetus before birth (immediately after birth, additional immunity is passed from mother to child thru breast milk |
| Acquired immunity | obtained by the development of antibodies during an attack of an infectious disease |
| Artificial immunity (immunization) | immunity that was acquired thru vaccination |
| Immune system response factors | 1. health, 2. age, 3. heredity |
| opportunistic infection | pathogen that normally does not cause disease but is able to caluse illness in a weakened host whose resistance has been decreased by a different disorder |
| allergy (hypersensitivity) | overreaction by the body to a particular antigen; occurs when the body's immune system reacts to a harmless allergen as if it were a dangerous invader (pollen, food, or animal dander are examples) |
| cellular response (localized or delayed allergic response) | body does not react the first time it is exposed to the allergen but sensitivity is established and future contacts cause symptoms that include itching, erythema, and large hives |
| systemic reaction (anaphylaxis) | severe response to a foreign substance such as a drug, food, insect venom, or chemical; symptoms develop very quickly and include swelling, blockage of air passages, and a drop in BP |
| scratch test | diagnostic test to identify commonly troublesome allergens such as tree pollen and ragweed; swelling and itching indicate an allergic reaction |
| Antihistamines | medications administered to block and control allergic reactions |
| autoimmune disorder | condition where the immune system misreads normal antigens and creates antibodies and direcgts T cells against the body's own tissues; appear to be genetically transmitted; affect most body systems; 75% occurmost frequently in women during the childbearing years |
| immunodeficiency disorder | condition that occurs when one or more parts of the immune system are deficient or missing |
| immune system weakened | compromised |
| human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) | bloodborne pathogen that invades and then progressively impairs or kills cells of the immune system |
| Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) | advanced stages of an HIV infection |
| ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) | blood test used to screeen for the presence of HIV antibodies; may produce a false-positive result |
| Western blot test | used when the results of the ELISA test are positive; performed to confirm the diagnosis of HIV; detects the presence of specific viral proteins; produces more accurate results |
