Immune system Flashcards
What are the 2 components to human defence systems?
-White Blood cells (Lymphocytes and Phagocytes)
-Physical and chemical barriers (Skin, Nose)
What are the 2 types of White Blood Cell?
Lymphocyte and Phagocyte.
What is the role of the immune system?
Kills Pathogens in the body
What is a pathogen
An organism that can cause disease
How does the nose prevent pathogens from entering body?
It has lots of little hairs and mucus in order to trap the pathogens.
How does the Trachea/Oesophagus prevent pathogens from entering the body?
The bronchi and bronchioles are covered in mucus to trap pathogens
-They are also lined with cilia to slowly move mucus back up to the back of the throat.
What acid does the stomach produce?
Hydrochloric acid (pH around 2)
Why is stomach acid important
Because it can kill most pathogens, however some survive.
What are the three functions of white blood cells?
Phagocytosis, Producing antitoxins and producing antibodies.
What happens during Phagocytosis
Phagocytes engulf pathogens, by tracking the pathogen down and binding on it.
What is a toxin?
Small ‘poisons’ that can damage cells.
What are anti-toxins?
They can bind to toxins and counteract them.
What is an antibody?
Small proteins that lock on to foreign antigens
-They act as signals to tell pathogens to engulf them.
What is an antigen?
Anything our immune system deems as foreign
What do Lymphocytes produce?
Antibodies
