IMMUNE SYSTEM Flashcards
(32 cards)
WHAT IS IMMUNITY ?
Immunity is concerned with the recognition
and disposal of foreign or ‘non-self’ materials that enter the body , usually in the form of life-threatening infectious micro-organisms but sometimes, unfortunately in the shape of a life saving kidney graft.
WHAT IS IMMUNOLOGY ?
Immunology is the study of the organs, cells, and molecules responsible for the recognition and disposal[immune system], how they interact, the consequences weather desirable or otherwise of their activities and ways in which they can be advantageously increased or reduced.
WHAT IS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ?
Immune system is the body’s natural defence system that helps fight infections.
WHAT DOES ‘SELF’ REFER TO IN TERMS OF IMMUNE SYSTEM ?
It refers to particles, such as proteins and other molecules, that are a part, or made by one’s body. they can be found circulating in the blood or attached to different tissues. Not targeted or destroyed by the immune system.
WHAT DOES ‘TOLERANCE’ REFER TO IN TERMS OF IMMUNE SYSTEM ?
the non reactivity of the immune system to self particles.
WHAT DOES ‘NON-SELF’ REFER TO IN TERMS OF IMMUNE SYSTEM ?
It refers to particles that are not made by the body and are recognised as potentially harmful. These are often called foreign bodies. They can be bacteria, viruses, parasites, pollens, dust and toxic chemicals.
WHAT DOES ‘ANTIGENS’ REFER TO IN TERMS OF IMMUNE SYSTEM ?
substances capable, under appropriate condition, of inducing the formation of antibodies and reacting specifically with the antibodies produced. They are divided into hetero-antigens and auto-antigens.
WHAT ARE EPITOPES ?
portions of the antigen molecules which are responsible for specificity of the antigens in antigen-antibody (Ag-Ab) reactions and that combine with the antigen binding site of Ab, to which they are complementary.
WHAT ARE PARATROPES ?
Sites of antigen binding on antibody molecule.
WHAT ARE HETERO-ANTIGENS ?
foreign antigens originating from outside the body. examples include parts of, or substances produced by non self particles.
WHAT ARE AUTO-ANTIGENS ?
antigens that originate from the body. an anomaly that occurs in persons with autoimmune disorders e.g. Addison’s disease, myasthenia gravis
WHAT ARE ANTIBODIES ?
proteins produced by the immune system in response to the presence of antigen.
WHAT IS IMMUNOLOGICAL MEMORY ?
It refers to the ability of the immune system to respond more rapidly and effectively to a pathogen that has been previously encountered.
WHAT IS VACCINATION ?
a method of stimulating the adaptive immune response and generating memory and acquired resistance without suffering the full effect of the disease
WHAT IS HYPERSENSITIVITY ?
It is a set of undesirable reactions produced by the normal immune system. occurs as a result of re-exposure to a previous stimulus. e.g. allergy
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ?
-The lymphatic system made up of the lymph nodes and vessels.
-The bone marrow made up of the red marrow which produces RBCs AND WBCs as well as platelets. And the yellow marrow.
-The spleen: filters the blood by removing old or damaged blood cells and platelets and helps the immune system by destroying bacteria and other foreign substances .
-The tonsils and thymus, which make the antibodies.
WHAT IS INNATE IMMUNITY
It is the first line of defence
It is made up of defences against infections that can be activated immediately once a pathogen attacks.
WHAT KIND OF IMMUNITY IS NON-SPECIFIC
INNATE IMMUNITY
WHAT DOES THE INNATE/NATURAL IMMUNITY CONSIST OF ?
Physical barriers; such as skin, G.I tracts,
respiratory tract, naso-pharynx, cilia.
Defence mechanism; such as secretions, saliva, lysozyme ( found in tears and sweat), gastric acid, mucous, bile, lactic acid (found in vaginal and urinary tract).
General immune responses; such as inflammation responses, complements, nonspecific cellular responses. These inflammatory responses actively bring cells to the site of an infection by increasing blood flow to the area while complement marks pathogens for destructions by making holes in the cell membrane of the pathogen.
WHAT ARE THE CELLS OF THE INNATE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Phagocytes or phagocytic cells
Macrophages
Mast cells
Eosinophils
Neutrophils
Basophils
Natural killer cells
Dendritic cells
WHAT ARE DENDRITIC CELLS ?
Dendritic cells are antigen- presenting cells that are located in tissues, and can contact external environments through the skin, the inner mucosal lining of the nose, lungs, stomach, and intestines. Since dendritic cells are located in tissues that are common points for initial infection, they can identify threats and act as messengers for the rest of the immune system by antigen presentation. Dendritic cells also act as bridge between the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system.
WHAT ARE NATURAL KILLER CELLS ?
They do not attack pathogens directly, rather they destroy infected host cells in order to stop the spread of an infection. Infected or compromised host cells can signal natural killer cells for destruction.
WHAT ARE BASOPHILS ?
granulocytes that attack multicellular parasites.
WHAT ARE PHAGOCYTES / PHAGOCYTIC CELLS ?
They circulate throughout the body, looking for potential threats like bacteria and viruses to engulf and destroy.
e.g. Macrophages, Leukocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes.
