Humoral immunity
Humoral Immunity
Humoral immunity (pronounced: hyoo-mor-al im-yoon-i-tee) is a type of immune response that involves the production of antibodies by B cells in response to an antigen. The term "humoral" is derived from the Latin word "humor," which means "fluid." This is because the humoral immune response occurs in the body's fluids or "humors."
Etymology
The term "humoral immunity" comes from the ancient medical theory of humorism, which posited that the body was made up of four "humors" or fluids. In modern medical terminology, "humoral" refers to the body's fluids, such as blood and lymph, where antibodies are found.
Function
The primary function of humoral immunity is to defend the body against extracellular pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, that have not yet infected cells. When B cells encounter an antigen, they differentiate into plasma cells that produce antibodies specific to that antigen. These antibodies then bind to the antigen, marking it for destruction by other immune cells.
Related Terms
- Antigen: A substance that triggers an immune response when introduced into the body.
- Antibody: A protein produced by B cells that binds to a specific antigen.
- B cell: A type of white blood cell that produces antibodies in response to an antigen.
- Plasma cell: A type of B cell that produces large amounts of a specific antibody.
- Immune response: The body's defensive reaction to foreign substances or organisms.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Humoral immunity
- Wikipedia's article - Humoral immunity
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