Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes are white blood cells produced by haematopoetic stem cells in the bone marrow.

B lymphocytes mature in the bone marrow and are involved in humoral immunity.

They produce antibodies and secrete them into the blood plasma and tissue fluid.

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antigen: A protein or glycoprotein, usually on a cell surface, that is recognised as foreign by the immune system and triggers an immune response.
antibody: A Y-shaped protein, made of four polypeptide chains with variable regions complementary to a specific antigen, produced by B plasma cells.
humoral response: The specific immune response involving B lymphocytes, which produce and secrete antibodies into the blood and tissue fluid.
cell-mediated response: The specific immune response involving T lymphocytes, which destroy infected or abnormal cells.
tissue fluid: The fluid, formed by the filtration of blood plasma under hydrostatic pressure, that surrounds cells and supplies them with substances.