HUMORAL IMMUNITY Meaning and
Definition
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Humoral immunity, also known as antibody-mediated immunity, is a crucial component of the immune response in vertebrates, including humans. It refers to the adaptive immune response that functions through the production and circulation of antibodies, which are proteins that can recognize and neutralize specific foreign substances known as antigens.
Humoral immunity relies on specialized white blood cells called B cells, which are responsible for producing and secreting antibodies into the bloodstream. These antibodies can recognize antigens that are present on the surface of pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Once the antibodies bind to the antigens, they can facilitate the destruction or neutralization of the pathogen by various mechanisms, including tagging them for elimination by other immune cells or directly preventing their ability to infect and harm cells in the body.
Unlike cellular immunity, which involves the direct targeting and elimination of infected cells, humoral immunity primarily focuses on defending against extracellular pathogens. It is also involved in immune responses against certain toxins and allergens.
The humoral immune response is characterized by the production of different types of antibodies, including immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), among others. These antibodies provide specific protection against reinfection by the same pathogen in the future, a process known as immunological memory.
Overall, humoral immunity plays a critical role in recognizing and eliminating invading pathogens, contributing to the body's ability to mount an effective immune response and maintain health.
Common Misspellings for HUMORAL IMMUNITY
- gumoral immunity
- bumoral immunity
- numoral immunity
- jumoral immunity
- uumoral immunity
- yumoral immunity
- hymoral immunity
- hhmoral immunity
- hjmoral immunity
- himoral immunity
- h8moral immunity
- h7moral immunity
- hunoral immunity
- hukoral immunity
- hujoral immunity
- humiral immunity
- humkral immunity
- humlral immunity
- humpral immunity
- hum0ral immunity
Etymology of HUMORAL IMMUNITY
The word "humoral" comes from the Latin word "humor", meaning "fluid" or "moisture". In ancient Greek and Roman medicine, it was believed that the human body contained four basic humors or bodily fluids: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. These humors were thought to determine a person's temperament and health.
The concept of humoral immunity originated in the 19th century when scientists were investigating the mechanisms of immune responses. It was proposed that the body's defense against diseases involved the production and circulation of substances, similar to the humors, that could confer immunity. These immune substances were referred to as "humors" or "humoral factors", primarily because their mode of action was compared to the ancient humoral theory.
