What it means
The white blood cells of the adaptive immune responseih-MYOON rih-SPONSThe way the body recognizes and defends itself against germs and other substances it sees as foreign.Full entry . B cells make antibodies (immunoglobulinim-yuh-noh-GLOB-yuh-linAn antibody: a protein made by B cells that recognizes and helps destroy a specific germ or foreign substance.Full entry ); T cells attack infected cells and direct other immune cells (CD4 cells, the helper T cells, are the ones HIV destroys); natural killer cells kill virus-infected and cancer cells. They live in the blood, lymphLIMFThe clear fluid that flows through the lymphatic vessels and carries white blood cells.Full entry and lymph nodes, and make up about 20% to 40% of white blood cells.
At a glance
| Spanish | linfocito |
|---|---|
| Also written | lymphocytes, lymphocytic |
Related terms
AIDS
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: the most advanced stage of HIV infection, when the immune system is badly damaged.
lymph
The clear fluid that flows through the lymphatic vessels and carries white blood cells.
immune response
The way the body recognizes and defends itself against germs and other substances it sees as foreign.
stem cell
An unspecialized cell that can divide to make more of itself and develop into specialized cells.
immunoglobulin
An antibody: a protein made by B cells that recognizes and helps destroy a specific germ or foreign substance.