Fighting Disease Flashcards
How does he skin act as a barrier to pathogens
It secretes anti microbial substances which kill pathogens
If pathogens make it into your body what kicks in to destroy them ?
Your immune system
What is the most important part of your immune system and why
Your white blood cells because they travel around your blood and are constantly patrolling for microbes . When they come across an invading microbe they have three lines of attack
What are the three lines of attack
Phagocytosis, antibodies and antitoxins
What is phagocytosis
Where White blood cells engulf foreign cells and digest them
What is the unique molecule on an invading pathogens surface called ?
Antigens
When some types of white blood cells come across a foreign antigen what protein will they produce
Antibodies
What do antibodies do
They lock Onto the invading cell so that they can be found and destroyed by other white blood cells
What are antibodies then done after ghe foreign pathogen is found
Produced rapidly to find all similar bacteria and viruses
What is produced by the invading bacteria
Antitoxins
What are vaccinations
Vaccinations involve injecting small amounts of dead or inactive pathogens
What is the MMR vaccine
TheMMR vaccine contains of weakened versions of the viruses hat cause measles mumps and rubella all in one vaccine
What are the pros of vaccination
Vaccines help control the spread of communicable diseases
Epidemics can be prevented if a large percentage of the population is vaccinated meaning that the population who aren’t vaccinated are unlikely to catch the disease
What are the cons of vaccination
Vaccines don’t always work
You can sometimes have a reaction such as swelling or something more serious like fever or seizures
What is the meaning of epidemics
Big outbreaks of disease
