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Medical-Surgical Nursing

Key Terms

Medical-Surgical NursingKey Terms
acquired immunity
(also: adaptive or specific immunity) immunity that develops after birth
apoptosis
normal, controlled process of cell death
autoimmunity
disordered state in which the immune system mistakenly targets and attacks the body’s own healthy tissues, organs, and cells
cilium
(plural: cilia) hairlike structure that removes invaders from the respiratory tract
genetic engineering
emerging field that uses recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology to enable the replacement of defective or missing genes
immunity
body’s specific, protective response to a foreign agent or organism
immunocompetent
state of having an efficient immune system that is able to carry out functions properly
immunocompromised
state of not having a properly working immune system
immunodeficiency
result of the malfunctioning of an underactive or weakened immune system
immunosenescence
gradual deterioration of the immune system due to natural aging processes
interferon
protein that signals the substances involved in defense against viruses
interleukin
protein that serves as the messenger substance of the immune system
multipotent
stem cells that can become the cell type they came from
natural immunity
(also: innate or nonspecific immunity) immunity that is present at birth
natural killer cell
white blood cell in the innate immune system
neoplasm
tumor that may be benign or malignant
phagocytosis
engulfing and destroying of foreign bodies by monocytes
pluripotent
description of stem cells that can become any other kind of cell
primary immunodeficiency
immunodeficiency that is genetic and typically hereditary and present at birth
psychoneuroimmunology
study of how the immune system and central nervous system interact
secondary immunodeficiency
immunodeficiency that generally develops later in life, caused by another disorder or the use of various medications
stem cell
cell in the earliest stage of development, before it has become specialized
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