Glossary of Terms for
Blood and Immunity

Active Immunity -The body produces it's own antibodies or killer T Cells

AIDS (Acquire Immune Deficiency Syndrome) - a transmittable disease which shuts down the immune system

Albumin - major plasma protein used to balance water levels between the blood and tissues

Allergy - A rapid overreaction to an antigen that is not normally harmful

Anemia - When a person has an inferior number of red blood cells or an insufficient amount of hemoglobin

Antibodies - proteins that help get rid of substances such as disease-causing organisms

Antigen - any substance that can cause a immune response

Autoimmune Disease - a disorder where the immune system of an individual fails to reconize some of the persons body cells as "self" and therefore produces antibodies against them

B-Cells - a type of lymphocyte produced and matured in the bone marrow

Blood Clotting - the solidification of blood to prevent blood loss

Complement System - enzymes that catalyze reactions in the blood that result in the bursting of a bacteria cell

Fibrin - an insoluble strand protein which forms the blood clot

Fibrinogen - major plasma protein involved in blood clotting

Globulins - major plasma protein which carries materials such as antibodies through the blood

Hemoglobin - a red iron containing pigment substance used to carry respiratory gases

Hemophilia - a hereditary disease where a person lacks one of the necessary clotting factors

Heparin - a natural anticoagulant released by basophils to stop spontaneous blood clots

H.I.V. (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) - the virus which causes AIDS by attacking the helper T cellls

Immune Response - the third line of defense which produces antibodies and specialized cells that inactivate foreign substances

Immune System - helps your body fight off foreign materials within the body

Inflammatory Response - swelling, redness, warmth pain in the area of an infection which is the second line of defense

Interferon - a protein which prevents healthy cells from being infected by viruses

Kaposi's Sarcoma - a rare form of blood vessel cancer by which many AIDS victims die

Lymphocytes - white blood cells that destroy foreign cells

Macrophages - white blood cells that ingest bacteria and viral infected cells in large quantities

Monocytes - a type of white blood cell which engulfs large particles

Neutrophils - a type of white blood cell which engulfs small particles

Passive Immunity - A person receives antibodies from another person or an animal

Pathogens - any type of microorganism such as bacteria or virusesthat is able to cause a disease

Platelets - cell fragments made in the bone marrow which are involved in blood clotting

Primary Immune Response - occurs the first time an antigen enters your body

Prothrombin - An inactive plasma protein that is made into active thrombin in the second step of the clotting process by a series of reactions controlled by thromboplastin

Red Blood Cells (RBC)- cells that are also known as erythrocytes that help carry oxygen throughout the blood

Rh factor - a group of antigens found on the surface of red blood cells

Secondary Immune Response - occurs the second time an antigen enters your body

T-Cells - a type of lymphocyte produced in the marrow, and matured in the thymus gland

Thrombin - an enzyme that converts fibrinogen to fibrin

Thromboplastin - an enzyme released from ruptured platelets in the first step of the clotting process

White Blood Cells (WBC)- a group of colourless blood cells known as leukocytes which are used within the body to protect it from disease causing organisms