2.6 Physical Barriers Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is the primary function of the immune system?
To cope with invasions by disease-causing pathogens
What are the two main sections of the immune system?
Non-specific mechanisms and specific defence mechanisms
Define pathogens.
Agents that cause disease, including bacterial and viral infections
What do non-specific defence mechanisms do?
Attack any pathogen
What characterizes specific defence mechanisms?
They identify specific antigens of foreign organisms and trigger a specific immune response
List the physical barriers that serve as the first line of defence in the immune system.
- Skin
- Mucous membranes
- Cilia
- Tears and saliva
What does the innate immune response include?
- Fever
- Inflammatory response
- Phagocytes
What components are involved in the adaptive immune response?
- B-lymphocytes
- T-lymphocytes
- Antibodies
- Memory cells
- Secondary lymphoid organs
What are the four main ways humans are vulnerable to pathogens?
- Respiratory surfaces
- Wounds
- Digestive systems
- Reproductive organs
What is pathogenicity?
The ability to cause disease in a host
Define virulence.
The degree to which a pathogen causes disease
What are anatomical barriers in the immune system?
- Skin
- Mucous membranes
- Cilia
- Stomach acid
- Urine flow
- Friendly bacteria
- Blood clotting
What role does the skin play in the immune system?
Acts as a barrier between pathogens and the body
What is the function of mucus?
A sticky substance that contains enzymes to protect against pathogens
What are cilia and their function?
Fine hairs that push foreign particles trapped in mucus to the throat or nose
What is lysozyme?
An enzyme that breaks down the cell wall of prokaryotes
What is the purpose of blood clotting?
To provide temporary fixes to breaks or tears in the skin barrier
What is self-tolerance in the immune system?
The ability to recognize and ignore the antigenic properties of its own tissues
What is an antigen?
A substance that causes the production of antibodies
True or False: Antibodies are made in response to antigens.
True
What do antibodies specifically bind to?
Only one particular antigen
Fill in the blank: The body’s own molecules are referred to as _______.
self
Fill in the blank: The ability of the immune system to recognize non-self molecules is crucial for _______ disease prevention.
autoimmune
