Immunity Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is Nonspecific Defense?
General defense mechanisms like skin, mucous membranes, and phagocytic cells that don’t target specific pathogens.
What is the Inflammatory Response?
Triggered by tissue damage; increases blood flow and sends phagocytes to destroy invaders.
What is a Phagocyte?
A white blood cell (like a macrophage) that engulfs and digests pathogens.
What is an Antigen?
A substance that stimulates an immune response by triggering recognition as foreign.
What is a Pathogen?
A disease-causing microorganism, such as bacteria or viruses.
What is Specific Immunity?
Immune responses that target specific antigens using B and T cells.
What is a B Cell?
A lymphocyte that produces antibodies as part of humoral immunity.
What is a T Cell?
A lymphocyte that attacks infected or abnormal body cells directly.
What is Humoral Immunity?
Immunity involving B cells and antibody production in body fluids.
What is Cell-Mediated Immunity?
Immunity involving T cells that destroy infected host cells.
What are Memory Cells?
Long-lived B or T cells that respond quickly to future exposures of the same antigen.
What is a Vaccine?
A substance that stimulates the immune system to develop immunity without causing disease.
What is an Autoimmune Disease?
A condition where the immune system attacks the body’s own cells.
What is an Immunodeficiency Disease?
A condition where the immune system lacks components, leading to frequent infections.
What is an Antibody?
A protein produced by B cells that binds to specific antigens to neutralize them.
What is the Integumentary System?
Provides a physical barrier to infection via skin, hair, and mucus.
What is the Respiratory System?
Defends with mucus, hairs, and reflexes like sneezing and coughing.
What is the Digestive System?
Uses stomach acid to kill ingested pathogens.
What is the Circulatory System?
Transports immune cells and antibodies throughout the body.
