The humoral response is a specific defence mechanism involving the production of antibodies to destroy pathogens.

B lymphocytes, or B cells, are cells involved in the humoral response that are covered in antibodies.

Helper T cells bind to antigen-presenting B cells to activate B cell division.

Plasma cells produce and secrete antibodies against a specific antigen.

Memory cells provide long-term immunity and rapidly divide into plasma cells that produce antibodies specific to a pathogen's antigens on reinfection.

It is described as humoral because it involves antibodies found in body fluids (or humor).

1. B cells with complementary antibodies bind to a pathogen's antigens, engulf them, and present them on their cell-surface membrane.
2. B cells are then activated by a T helper cell binding to these antigens.
3. On activation, B cells divide by mitosis to form plasma cells and memory cells. 

T helper cells bind to B cells with complementary antibodies to the pathogen's antigens to activate their division. 

The process of selecting B cells with the correct antibody for cloning.

During the primary immune response, the concentration of antibodies increases slowly as B cells divide into plasma cells, which produce antibodies, and some divide into memory cells.

During the secondary immune response, the concentration of antibodies increases quickly as memory cells recognise the pathogen's antigens and divide into plasma cells.