This organ in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen filters blood, destroys old RBCs, and stores platelets.
What is the spleen?
This type of cell differentiates into multiple types of cells including erythrocytes, mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils.
What are Myeloid stem cells?
This type of adaptive immunity is acquired when a patient receives a flu shot or a tetanus vaccine.
What is artificial active immunity?
An LPN/LVN reviewing a Complete Blood Count (CBC) knows that an elevation in this specific type of WBC usually indicates an overwhelming bacterial infection.
What are neutrophils?
This is the priority nursing assessment when a patient presents with an acute allergic reaction involving angioedema of the face and neck.
What is assessing the airway (or respiratory status)?
This bi-lobed gland located in the mediastinum is where T-lymphocytes go to mature. It shrinks as we age.
What is the thymus?
This clear-to-milky fluid is collected from interstitial spaces and transported back into the bloodstream.
What is lymph?
These specific white blood cells are responsible for producing antibodies (humoral immunity) when they encounter an antigen.
What are B-lymphocytes (or B cells)?
This drug is the absolute first-line treatment given via IM injection for a patient experiencing anaphylaxis.
What is epinephrine?
A crucial post-op nursing rule: Never take a blood pressure or draw blood from an arm on the side where a patient has had this surgical procedure.
What is a mastectomy (with lymph node dissection)?
These tiny, bean-shaped structures filter lymph fluid and cluster in the axilla, groin, and neck.
What are lymph nodes?
This condition occurs when lymphatic fluid leaks or builds up in tissues, often seen in arms or legs after lymph node removal.
What is lymphedema?
This is the most abundant type of antibody in the blood and is the only one capable of crossing the placenta to protect a newborn.
What is IgG?
This class of medications (e.g., prednisone) is used to suppress the immune system in autoimmune flare-ups but requires careful monitoring for infection.
What are corticosteroids (or glucocorticoids)?
Patients who are HIV positive will eventually progress to this stage, where they have no functioning immune system and their CD4+ count is <200.
What is AIDS?
This type of immunity is what you are born with, providing a non-specific, immediate response to invaders (e.g., skin, mucous membranes).
What is innate (or natural) immunity?
This type of cell matures and is released into the bloodstream from the thymus gland and mediate the cellular response.
What are T lymphocytes?
This severe, life-threatening Type I hypersensitivity reaction causes systemic vasodilation, airway constriction, and hives.
What is anaphylaxis (or anaphylactic shock)?
This common antibiotic causes tooth discoloration in children under 8 years old.
What is tetracycline (or doxycycline)?
This autoimmune disorder is characterized by a scaly butterfly rash on the face, Reynaud's phenomenon, profound weakness and sun sensitivity.
What is Systemic Lupus Erythematous?
Located in the small intestine, these specialized lymph nodules analyze and destroy bacterial populations in the gut.
What are Peyer's patches?
An increase in immature neutrophils (bands or stabs) that occurs with an acute infection.
What is a left shift?
This category of immune disorders happens when the body loses its ability to differentiate "self" from "non-self," attacking its own healthy tissues.
What are autoimmune diseases?
With an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of <2000, the client should be placed on these precautions in order to protect them from further infection.
What is neutropenic precautions?
This type of cancer of the white blood cells is characterized by 2 different types, can metastasize to different parts of the body by and is often diagnosed by a swollen lymph node.
What is lymphoma?