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complement system
This term refers to a specific biochemical cascade within the innate immune system. It is a technical medical term used primarily in immunology, pathology, and clinical medicine. The word "complement" here does not mean a completion or a matching pair, but rather the action of complementing or enhancing the activity of antibodies.
Because it describes a singular, complex biological mechanism, it is treated as an uncountable noun in most scientific contexts. It is rarely pluralized unless referring to different types of complement systems across various species.
Meanings
A part of the immune system consisting of a group of proteins that enhance the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear microbes and damaged cells from an organism.
The complement system plays a critical role in the innate immune response by marking pathogens for destruction.