Immunity

Question 1

What are antigens

Answer 1

Antigens is any molecule that a triggers an immune response

Question 2

What is innate immunity?

Answer 2

• consists of the first and second line of defence against foreign invaders
• it is non specific and repels all pathogens equally

Question 3

Is innate immunity present at birth or acquired later in life?

Answer 3

It is present at birth and is genetically determined

Question 4

What are the physical barriers involved in the first line of defence of innate immunity?

Answer 4

• Skin
• Mucous membranes
• Cilia
• urine flow

Question 5

What are the chemical barriers involved in the first line of defence

Answer 5

• urine
• sebum and sweat
• saliva
• tears

Question 6

What is the purpose of innate immunity?

Answer 6

immediate and non specific protection against pathogens and prevent further entry and reproduction

Question 7

Does innate immunity have memory of previous infections?

Answer 7

No, innate immunity does not have memory of previous infections and does not produce memory cells

Question 8

What is fever?

Answer 8

Fever is a temporary increase in body temperature, typically caused by the release of pyrogens in response to an infection

Question 9

What are pyrogens?

Answer 9

Pyrogens are chemicals released by the body during an infection that can cause an elevation in body temperature.

Question 10

Which part of the brain is responsible for regulating body temperature?

Answer 10

The hypothalamus, located in the brain,

Question 11

What is the normal body temperature in humans on average?

Answer 11

37 degrees celcius

Question 12

What is the purpose of a fever during an infection?

Answer 12

• kill and inhibit the growth of pathogens by creating an unfavourable environment for their survival
• enhance the biochemical and cellular reactions in the body- activity of WBCs

Question 13

How does fever enhance and accelerate biochemical and cellular reactions?

Answer 13

increased metabolic activity leads to faster chemical reactions and cellular processes

Question 14

Are temporary or mild fevers a normal response to pathogen invasion?

Answer 14

temporary or mild fevers are a normal response to pathogen invasion and can help the immune system fight off the infection.

Question 15

When does a high fever occur, and what should it indicate?

Answer 15

A high fever is a sign of significant illness and can sometimes lead to seizures, requiring medical attention.

Question 16

What is the inflammatory response?

Answer 16

The inflammatory response is a nonspecific chemical reaction that plays a vital role in wound repair and the destruction of pathogens.

Question 17

What are the effects of chemical signals released during inflammation?

Answer 17

• Causes the capillaries to dilate which increases the blood flow to site of infection
• leads to hot, painful, swollen, red and loss of mobility

Question 18

What is the role of histamines in the inflammatory response?

Answer 18

• Released by mast cells
• trigger vasodilation- increased blood flow
• increase vascular permeability for phagocytes to move from blood to infected tissue

Question 19

What is the function of phagocytes?

Answer 19

Specialised white blood cells that engulf and destroy pathogens

Question 20

Describe the process of phagocytosis.

Answer 20

*

Question 21

What is phagocytosis

Answer 21

• Phagocytosis is the process of engulfing and destroying foreign particles.

Question 22

Name different types of phagocytes.

Answer 22

• Neutrophils
• monocytes
• macrophages and dendritic cells

Question 23

What is the role of macrophages in fighting infections?

Answer 23

• Macrophages play a crucial role in fighting chronic infections due to its long life span

Question 24

What is the role of neutrophils in fighting infections?

Answer 24

• first responders to the site of infection and have a short life span, self destructing within a few days

Question 25

How do phagocytes migrate from the blood to infected or inflamed tissues?

Answer 25

squeeze between the cells lining the capillaries to migrate from the blood to infected or inflamed tissues.

Question 26

What is the role of monocytes in the immune response?

Answer 26

• they can differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells once they reach the site of infection