Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

(^144) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified

Learning Objectives

Key Terms

Allergies

Anaphylaxis

Antigen

Autoimmune disorders

B-cells

Exudation

Histamines

Human immunodeficiency virus

(HIV)

Hypersensitivity reactions

Immunodeficiency disorders

Lymphocytes

Reed-Sternberg cells

T-cells

Tryptase

Urticaria

Western blot

Acquired immunodeficiency

syndrome (AIDS)

Anaphylaxis

Ankylosing spondylitis

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS)

Lymphoma

Rheumatoid arthritis

Scleroderma

Mononucleosis

Epstein-Barr virus/

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Lyme disease

Septic shock

Systemic lupus erythematosus

(SLE)

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How the Immune System Works

Normal functioning of the immune system protects the body against the invasion

of outside organisms. A variety of organisms are capable of this; however, not all

are harmful. The cells of the immune system recognize organisms that invade the

body, then isolate and destroy them. At times, the immune system is not able to

adequately function in this capacity. This results in infection, immunodeficiency

disorders, autoimmune disorders, allergies, and hypersensitivity reactions.

Lymphocytes are the primary cells of the immune system. Lymphocytes are

divided into B-cells and T-cells. B-cells provide a humoral immune response,