Pathology · Immune System · Easy

Hypersensitivity

Meaning: Exaggerated or inappropriate immune response that causes tissue damage.

In practice: Hay fever triggered by grass pollen is a classic example of type I hypersensitivity.

Word parts

  • hyper- means above or more than normal

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

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Which word means: A malignant tumour arising from epithelial cells.

Which word means: Inflammation of muscle; in the ossificans form, bone develops within injured muscle.

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Related words

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