Medical Glossary

This glossary contains:
19186
medical terms

Immunity




Immunity

When a body's immune system helps fend off disease.

RELATED TERMS
--------------------------------------

Immune
Resistant to a particular disease.

Disease
Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the rubella (German measles) virus.



SIMILAR TERMS
--------------------------------------

Immune
Resistant to a particular disease.

Immune adherence
The adherence of particulate antigen coated with C3b to tissue having cells with C3b receptors.

Immune complex
Antigen bound to antibody.

Immune modulators
Substances that control the expression of the immune response.

Immune response (Ir) gene
A gene controlling an immune response to a particular antigen; most genes of this type are in the MHC (major histocompatibility complex), and the term is rarely used to describe other types of Ir genes outside the MHC.

Immune System
The body's natural defense system which produces antibodies to fight against foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, and cancers.

Immunization
Natural immunity provided by antibodies or induced immunity via inoculations.

Immuno globulin E
Immuno globulin E is the antibody produced in excess in allergic patients. IgE can be measured in a blood sample to determine if a person is allergic. Allergic people usually have high levels of IgE.

Immuno-Augmentative Clinic
The Immuno-Augmentative Clinic is a hospital in Freeport, Freeport, Bahamas.

Immunoassay
Detection and assay of substances by serological (immunological) methods; in most applications the substance in question serves as antigen, both in antibody production and in measurement of antibody by the test substance.

Immunofluorescence
Technique allowing the visualisation of a specific protein in cells or tissue sections (prepared from a biopsy) by binding a specific antibody conjugated to a fluorescent substrate.

Immunogen
A substance capable of inducing an immune response (as well as reacting with the products of an immune response). Compare with antigen.

Immunoglobulin
A serum protein involved in immunity. An antibody.

Immunoglobulin (Ig)
A general term for all antibody molecules. Each Ig unit is made up of two heavy chains and two light chains and has two antigen- binding sites.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)
A type of antibody, formed to protect the body from infection, which attaches to mast cells in the respiratory and intestinal tracts and may cause allergic rhinitis, asthma, or eczema.

Immunoglobulins
Antibodies or proteins found in blood and tissue fluids produced by cells of the immune system to bind to substances in the body that are recognized as foreign antigens. Immunoglobulins sometimes bind to antigens that are not necessarily a threat to health and provoke an allergic reaction.

Immunohistochemical staining
A laboratory process of detecting an organism in tissues with antibodies. These antibodies are labeled with a compound that is seen as a colored deposit when viewed microscopically. In general, mesotheliomas require immunohistochemical confirmation before legal measures are initiated.

Immunology
The study of the body's natural defense system.

Immunosuppresive medications
Medications that suppress the body's immune system, used to minimize rejection of transplanted organs.

Immunosuppression
The artificial suppression of the immune response, usually through drugs, so that the body will not reject a transplanted organ or tissue. Drugs commonly used to suppress the immune system after transplant include prednisone, azathioprine (Imuran), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), and cyclosporine (Neoral).

Immunotherapy
Stimulating the body's natural defense system to attack and destroy cancers.

Immutable
Long-lasting and unchangeable.



PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS
--------------------------------------

Informed consent
A process in which a patient gives written consent (agreement) to undergo a medical procedure after having been provided with information about the nature of the procedure, risks, potential benefits, alternatives, and so on by his or her doctor.

Inner cell mass
The cluster of cells inside the blastocyst. Before implantation, these can give rise to embryonic stem cell lines. After implantation, the inner cell mass gives rise to all the tissues of the fetus, as well as some of the membranes around it.

Institutional review board (IRB)
An administrative body in an institution (such as a hospital or university) established to protect the rights and welfare of human research subjects recruited to participate in research activities conducted under the auspices of that institution. The IRB has the authority to approve, require modifications in, or disapprove research activities in its jurisdiction, as specified by both federal regulations and local institutional policy.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
An assisted reproductive method in which a sperm is injected directly into an unfertilized egg with a microscopic needle; this procedure is used in cases of severe male factor infertility.

IVF
See In vitro fertilization

Immunity

Immunization
Natural immunity provided by antibodies or induced immunity via inoculations.

In loco parentis
Latin for "In place of a parent," referring to the rights and duties of a guardian or organization.

In utero surgery
Surgery done in the uterus to correct an abnormality in a fetus.

Incompetent cervix
When the muscles of the cervix are too weak to hold a baby through pregnancy. A stitch may be placed at the opening of the cervix to hold it together. See cerclage.

Incubator
A box-like apparatus in which premature babies are kept at constant and suitable temperature.

We thank you for using the Medical Glossary to search for Immunity. If you have a better definition for Immunity than the one presented here, please let us know by making use of the suggest a term option. This definition of Immunity may be disputed by other professionals. Our attempt is to provide easy definitions on Immunity and any other medical topic for the public at large.
 

This dictionary contains 19186 terms.







mmunity / imunity / imunity / immnity / immuity / immunty / immuniy / immunit / iimmunity / immmunity / immmunity / immuunity / immunnity / immuniity / immunitty / immunityy / mmunity / inmunity / ijmunity / ikmunity / i,munity / i munity / imnunity / imjunity / imkunity / im,unity / im unity / imm7nity / imm8nity / imminity / immknity / immjnity / immhnity / immynity / imm6nity / immubity / immuhity / immujity / immumity / immu ity / immunty / immuni5y / immuni6y / immuniyy / immunihy / immunigy / immunify / immuniry / immuni4y / immunit6 / immunit7 / immunitu / immunitj / immunith / immunitg / immunitt / immunit5 /