Physiology · Immune System · Hard

Interleukin

Meaning: A type of cytokine that carries signals between white blood cells.

In practice: Tocilizumab blocks an interleukin receptor and is used in rheumatoid arthritis.

Word parts

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

Two questions on related physiology words.

Which word means: Cell division that halves the chromosome number to produce eggs or sperm.

Which word means: Yellow pigment formed from the breakdown of haem in old red blood cells.

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