Immune System

immune system's ability to destroy specific targets and "remember" those targets

Y-shaped protein that recognizes and binds to a specific antigen

substance that is recognized by surface antibodies or other immune cells to prompt an immune response

lymphocyte that originates and matures in the red bone marrow and produces antibodies, which bond to pathogens and neutralize them

leukocyte (white blood cell) from the myeloid lineage that releases histamine and heparin to promote inflammation

movement of a cell in response to a chemical stimulus

one of a family of chemical messengers that regulate several different immune functions

rupture of the cell membrane that causes the cell to burst apart

antigen-presenting cell that elicits an adaptive immune response from T cells

movement of leukocytes through capillary walls from the bloodstream into tissue as part of the inflammatory response

leukocyte (white blood cell) from the myeloid lineage that contains granules, releases cytotoxic chemicals to kill large parasites, and plays a role in allergies and asthma

systemic response to pathogens that inhibits bacterial growth and aids in the overall immune response by increasing leukocyte mobility and T cell proliferation

immune cell that contains granules in the cytoplasm

local response to injured tissue that results in an increased blood flow to the affected site and triggers a cell-mediated immune response if the second line of defense fails

nonspecific, immune response, including chemical and physical barriers and internal cellular and chemical defenses

cytokine released from cells infected by a virus that causes a series of protective changes in neighboring cells

cytokine released by macrophages that attracts leukocytes to the site of an infection

specialized immune cell that originates from hematopoietic stem cells found in the red bone marrow

specific type of leukocyte that includes several different types of specialized immune cells, all of which are primarily found in lymph (interstitial fluid that has entered the lymphatic system)

phagocytic cell that patrols tissues in search of pathogens

immune cell that lives for a long time in the body's tissues and releases chemicals, triggering allergic-mediated responses from the immune system

large phagocytic leukocyte (white blood cell) that circulates in the bloodstream. When attracted to tissues, it differentiates into a macrophage.

most common type of leukocyte (white blood cell) in the body. It migrates from the bloodstream to carry out phagocytosis at the site of an injury.

molecule that promotes phagocytosis by macrophages and other phagocytic immune cells

process by which cells such as macrophages engulf and digest pathogens or other material

vesicle that surrounds an engulfed particle

leukocyte produced by red bone marrow that migrates to the thymus gland, where it matures. They play a role in eliciting the adaptive immune response