immune system Flashcards
(28 cards)
whats the function of the immune system?
The system in the body responsible for maintaining homeostasis by recognizing harmful from non harmful organisms and producing an appropriate response.
what is immunity?
Immune response is the defensive reaction of the body to antigens or pathogens
what are pathogens/antigens?
A foreign object in the body that causes disease.
what are some types of pathogens and antigens?
Virus
Bacteria
Fungus
Parasite
what are antibodies and how are they specific?
Proteins produced by the WBC in response to antigens. They attack the foreign invaders
Each antibody is specific to its antigen/ pathogen
what does the skin do as the immune systems firs tline of defnese?
Provides Physical and Chemical barriers
Physical – hard to penetrate
Chemical – tears, sweat (washes away pathogens)
what is the second lien of defnese in the immune system which are non-specific to invading pathogens?
Phagocytosis – process where the cell “eats” a pathogen
Natural Killer Cells
Inflammation - caused by release of histamine (a chemical that fights invaders) from leukocytes
Fever – caused by histamines. The fever kills invaders by denaturing their proteins.
what is the third line of defnese in the immune system?
This is a specific response to a specific pathogen/ antigen. (they arent the same)
The response involves the creation of antibodies.
what is the plan of defnese in the third line normally?
The WBC’s recognize a foreign invader.
WBC identifies the invader and then makes antibodies to determine the pathogen as “bad”
The Macrophage eats & kills the pathogen & antibody.
The WBC’s remember the invader so it is prepared if that person is re-exposed
What is passive immunity?
A person is given antibodies obtained either from another person (Mother) or animal
what is amternal immunity?
Maternal immunity: antibodies from mother enter baby’s blood before birth providing infant with passive immunity.
Mother’s milk: protects child against infectious diseases for first few months.
What is active immunity and when does it occur?
The body produces its own antibodies
in response to an antigen
Occurs from having a disease and
recovering from it
wHAT REMAINS AFTER ACTIVE IMMUNITY IN THE BLOOD?
Antibodies remain in the blood
forever to protect against reinfection
What is natural active immunity?
acquired due to infection (the body “remembers” the antigen/pathogen because it has created its own antibodies
what is artifical active immunity?
- vaccination
A vaccine will cause the body to create antibodie
what are vaccines?
Dead or weakened bacteria or viruses
how do vaccines work?
When injected into body WBC’s to produce antibodies.
The body develops immunity to the disease without actually suffering through it.
what makes us more vulnearble to pathogens?
Age, stress, fatigue
what are allergies and give examples?
Allergy: a rapid overreaction of the immune system to an antigen that is not normally harmful.
Ex. Pollen, dust mites, insect stings, certain foods, animal hair.
how do allergies work?
they are caused by histamines reacting to a certain material giving a runny nose, sneezing, rash, swelling.
what are antihistamines used for and give examples?
Antihistamines reduce the effects of allergies
Ex. Sudafed, Benadryl
what are autoimmune disorders and give examples?
The immune system of an individual fails to recognize some of the person’s body cells as “self” and therefore produce antibodies against them.
Ex. Juvenile diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis.
what is diabetes?
The immune system destroys the Insulin producing Beta cells of the pancreas.
what is multiple sclerosis?
occurs when the body attacks the myelin sheath of neurons.
effects include the loss of motor control, feeling or even paralysis of the affected areas.
