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Flashcards in Immune System Deck (18)
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1
Q

Diseases

A

a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.

2
Q

Infectious

A

(of a disease or disease-causing organism) liable to be transmitted to people, organisms, etc. through the environment.

3
Q

Non Infectious

A

(of a disease or disease-causing organism) not liable to be transmitted through the environment.

4
Q

Pathogen

A

a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.

5
Q

Microbe

A

a microorganism, especially a bacterium causing disease or fermentation.

6
Q

Non cellular pathogen

A

Non-cellular life refers to organisms, such as viruses, that exist without any cells, and it is a very controversial topic. The cell theory, which is one of the fundamental tenets of biology, states that all living things are composed of cells and that cells are the basic units of life.

7
Q

Cellular Pathogen

A

An agent causing disease or illness to its host, such as an organism or infectious particle capable of producing a disease in another organism.

8
Q

Innate Immunity

A

Immunity that is naturally present and is not due to prior sensitization to an antigen from, for example, an infection or vaccination. Since it is not stimulated by specific antigens, innate immunity is generally nonspecific. It is in contrast to acquired immunity. Also called natural immunity.

9
Q

Adaptive Immunity

A

The adaptive immune system, also known as the acquired immune system or, more rarely, as the specific immune system, is a subsystem of the overall immune system that is composed of highly specialized, systemic cells and processes that eliminate pathogens or prevent their growth.

10
Q

3 lines of defence

A

The first line of defence (or outside defence system) includes physical and chemical barriers that are always ready and prepared to defend the body from infection. These include your skin, tears, mucus, cilia, stomach acid, urine flow, ‘friendly’ bacteria and white blood cells called neutrophils.

11
Q

Natural Flora

A

The normal flora are bacteria which are found in or on our bodies on a semi-permanent basis without causing disease. There are more bacteria living in or on our bodies, than we have cells of our own. A human body contains around 1013 cells. The human body is home to around 1014 bacteria.

12
Q

Antigen

A

a toxin or other foreign substance which induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.

13
Q

Antibody

A

a blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies combine chemically with substances which the body recognizes as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood.

14
Q

Inflammation

A

a localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection.

15
Q

Mucous

A

relating to, producing, covered with, or of the nature of mucus.

16
Q

Phagocytes

A

a type of cell within the body capable of engulfing and absorbing bacteria and other small cells and particles.

17
Q

Phagocytosis

A

Phagocytosis, process by which certain living cells called phagocytes ingest or engulf other cells or particles. The phagocyte may be a free-living one-celled organism, such as an amoeba, or one of the body cells, such as a white blood cell. … The process by which cells engulf solid matter is called phagocytosis.

18
Q

White Blood Cell (WBC)

A

less technical term for leucocyte. Also helps combat diseases in your body