Category: A

The mechanism during an immune response that produces antibodies with a strong ability to bind to a foreign antigen over time. Affinity maturation is produced by changes in the genes that encode immunoglobulin G (IgG) and by increased survival of those B lymphocytes that produce antibodies with the greatest ability to destroy a particular antigen.…

Pairing of male and female that is controlled in some manner.  

Portion of the temporal bone lying behind the external opening of the ear and below the temporal line and containing mastoid sinuses and antrum. Its inner surface bears a deep, curved, sigmoid groove that contains a part of the transverse sinus in which the opening of the mastoid foramen is visible.  

An accumulation of mast cells that resembles a neoplasm.  

Surgical breast enlargement, either to increase breast size or to make an artificial breast to replace one surgically removed; performed by inserting autogenous tissue with mobilization of myocutaneous flap or a prosthesis filled with gel or saline.  

The age-usually 18 or 21 years -at which a person achieves full legal rights to make one’s own decisions, enter into contracts, and be held personally accountable for the consequences of one’s actions.  

Lymphocytes that react with “self’-antigens. Most of these cells are eliminated during lymphocyte maturation or by activation-induced cell death.  

A lymphocyte that has been stimulated by exposure to a specific antigen or by macrophage processing so that it is capable of responding to a foreign antigen by neutralizing or eliminating it.  

Any of the small vessels carrying lymph toward a lymph node.  

An IgG autoantibody that binds to the thyroid-stimulating hormoneceptor, stimulating the excessive production of thyroid hormones and causing hyperthyroidism. This immunoglobulin is found in the blood of about 75% of patients with Graves’ disease but is used rarely for diagnostic purposes, because the diagnosis usually can be established on clinical grounds, i.e., on finding a…