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chapter 6
immune and lymphatic system
Term | Definition |
---|---|
splenomegaly | Abnormal enlargement of the spleen due to bleeding caused by an injury, an infectious disease such as mononucleosis, or abnormal functioning of the immune system |
antigen | Any substance that the body regards as being foreign, and includes viruses, bacteria, toxins, and transplanted tissues. |
allergen | Substance that produces an allergic reaction in an individual |
antibody | Disease fighting protein created by the immune system in response to the presence of a specific antigen. |
lymphocytes | White blood cells that are formed in bone marrow as stem cells. These cells undergo further maturation and differentiation in lymphoid tissue throughout the body |
macrophage | Type of white blood cell that surrounds and kills invading cells. They also remove dead cells and stimulate the action of other immune cells |
anaphylaxis | Severe response to an allergen. The symptoms develop quickly and without medical aid, the patient can die within a few minutes |
autoimmune disorder | Any of a large group of diseases characterized by a condition in which the immune system produces antibodies against it’s own tissues. |
Immunodeficiency Disorder | Occurs when the immune response is compromised or weakened, reduced, absent or not functioning. |
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) | Blood borne infection in which the virus damages or kills the cells of the immune system, causing it to progressively fail, thus leaving the body at risk of developing many life-threatening opportunistic infections. |
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) | Most advanced, and fatal, stage of an HIV infection. |
Immunosuppressant | Treatment to repress or interfere with the ability of the immune system to respond to stimulation by antigens |
Cytotoxic Drug | Medication that kills or damages cells. These drugs are used as immunosuppressant's or antineoplastics. |
Rickettsia | Small bacterium that lives in lice, fleas, ticks and mites |
Staphylococci | Group of bacteria that form irregular groups or clusters resembling grapes. Most staph are harmless and reside normally on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and other organisms, however, others are capable of producing very serious infections |
Streptococci | Bacteria that form a chain. Many strep species are harmless, however, other members of this group are responsible for illness including strep throat, meningitis, endocarditis, and necrotizing fasciitis. |
Malaria | Disease caused by a parasite that lives in certain mosquitos that is transferred to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms develop after being infected and include fever, shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. |
Herpes Zoster | Acute viral infection characterized by painful skin eruptions that follow the underlying route of an inflamed nerve. This inflammation occurs when the dormant varicella (chickenpox) virus is reactivated later in life. |
Infectious Mononucleosis | Aka MONO Caused by the Epstein-Barr virus |
Rubella | Viral infection characterized by a low-grade fever, swollen glands, inflammed eyes, and a fine pink rash |
Rabies | An acute viral infection that is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite or salvia of an infected animal. |
Varicella | AKA chickenpox Caused by the herpes virus Varicella Zoster and is highly contagious |
Antibiotic | Medications that are capable of inhibiting growth or killing pathogenic bacterial microorganisms |
Antifungal | Is an agent that destroys or inhibits the growth of fungi. |
Metastasize | Process by which cancer spreads from one place to another. The cancer moves from the primary site and metastasizes to a secondary site |
Carcinoma | Malignant tumor that occurs in epithelial tissue. Epithelial tissue forms the protective covering for all of the internal and external surfaces of the body |
Lymphoma | General term applied to malignancies affecting lymphoid tissues. This includes lymph nodes, the spleen, liver and bone marrow. |
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma | Distinguished by other lymphomas by the presence of large, cancerous lymphocytes known as Reed-Sternberg Cells |
Mammography | Is a radiographic examination of the breasts to detect the presence of tumors or precancerous cells. |
Hemolytic | The spleen has the hemolytic function of destroying worn-out red blood cells and releasing their hemoglobin for reuse |
Myoma | Is a benign tumor made up of muscle tissue |
Tetanus | Caused by the bacillus Clostridium tetani, and is transmitted through a cut or wound. Commonly produces the symptom of lock jaw because it produces muscle spasms that are so severe a patient cannot open his or her mouth or swallow |