Adaptive immune system
Adaptive immune system
The Adaptive immune system, also known as the acquired immune system or, more rarely, as the specific immune system, is a subsystem of the overall immune system that is composed of highly specialized, systemic cells and processes that eliminate or prevent pathogen growth.
Pronunciation
Adaptive immune system: /əˈdæptɪv ɪˈmjuːn ˈsɪstəm/
Etymology
The term "adaptive" comes from the Latin word "adaptare", which means "to adjust". The term "immune" comes from the Latin word "immunis", which means "exempt". The term "system" comes from the Latin word "systema", which means "an organized whole".
Function
The adaptive immune system is responsible for the body's ability to recognize and remember specific pathogens in order to provide long-lasting protective immunity. It does this through a process known as an immune response, which involves the activation of lymphocytes, including B cells and T cells.
Components
The adaptive immune system is composed of antibodies, lymphocytes, and a variety of other cells and proteins that work together to protect the body from infection. These components are produced and stored in various parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow.
Related Terms
- Innate immune system: The part of the immune system that provides immediate defense against infection.
- Immunity: The ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin.
- Antigen: A substance that induces an immune response, especially the production of antibodies.
- Immunological memory: The ability of the immune system to quickly and specifically recognize an antigen that the body has previously encountered and initiate a corresponding immune response.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Adaptive immune system
- Wikipedia's article - Adaptive immune system
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski