Module 2 : Cell Recogintion And The Imune System Flashcards
(95 cards)
What is a pathogen?
Microorganisms that cause diseases.
What is a communicable disease?
An infectious disease that can be passes form one organism to another. They are caused by microorganisms known as pathogens.
What are the four main types of pathogen?
Bacteria, viruses, protoctists and fungi.
Why can bacteria be considered a pathogen?
They produce toxins that can damage body cells.
Why can viruses be considered a pathogen?
They use host cells to replicate before bursting out and destroying cells.
Why can protoctists be considered pathogens?
They take over cells and break them open.
why can fungi be considered pathogens?
They digest living cells to destroy them and some produce toxins.
What is a non-specific defence?
These act quickly to defend the body, but response in the same way for all pathogens.
What is a specific defence?
These are slower to decent the body but produce a specific response for each pathogen.
Why is the skin considered a physical barrier form pathogens?
It blocks the pathogens from entering the body.
Why is the skin considered a chemical barrier form pathogens?
It produces sebum, an oily, anti microbial substance that lowers the pH to inhibit the growth of pathogens.
What is a mucous membrane and how does it defend agains pathogens?
Parts of the ear,nose,throat and digestive tract are lined by mucous membranes.
These membranes secrete mucus to trap pathogens and use lysosomes to destroy they.
How do expulsion reflexes help to defend against pathogens?
Coughing and sneezing are methods of expelling foreign objects from the gas exchanging system.
Vomiting and diarrhoea expel the contents of the gut along with any pathogens present.
How does blood clotting and wound repair defend the body agains pathogens?
A cut to the skin provides a possible entry for pathogens and so blood clots act quickly to seal any wounds. The clot dries out the form a scalp that blocks entry to the body. After a scab has formed the skin is capable of repairing itself to reform its physical barrier. Epidermal cells underneath the scalp divide while damaged blood vessels regrow and collagen fibres are used to provide strength to the new tissue. Once the epidermis is the required thickness, the scalp breaks off and the wound is healed.
What is inflammation?
Consists of swelling, heat, redness, and pain at the site of infection or wounds.
What are the two ways that inflammation on can be triggered by damaged issues which release chemicals affecting the blood vessels?
- blood vessels dilate which increases blood flow to the area, making it hotter to prevent pathogens from reproducing.
- blood vessel walls become more permeable so that they start to leak tissue fluid, causing swelling and isolating any pathogens in the damaged tissue.
What is an antigen?
They are unique molecules (usually proteins) that can be found on the surface of cells.
What do antigens do in the immune system?
They allow the immune system to distinguish between the body’s own cells and foreign cells. Any foreign cells can be destroyed whilst leaving the body’s own cells unaffected.
What is phagocytosis?
A type of non-specific defence involving a type of cell known as a phagocyte.
What do phagocytes do?
A type of white blood cell that engulf and destroy pathogens. They are found in the blood and body tissues of many organisms.
How is the process of phagocytosis carried out?
- The pathogen releases chemicals that attract the phagocyte.
2.the phagocyte recognises the pathogens antigen as non-self. This causes the phagocyte to bind to the pathogen.
3.the phagocyte engulfs the pathogen. - The pathogen is now contained within a vesicle known as a ‘phagosome’.
5.the lysosome, containing hydrochloride enzymes called lysozymes, fuses with the phagosome to form a phagolysosome. - Lysozymes digest and destroy the pathogen.
- The phagocyte presents the pathogens antigens on its surface to active at other cells in the immune system. The phagocyte is then referred yo as an antigen presenting cell (APC).
What are specific defence mechanisms?
Slower than non-specific defences, but they produce a unique response for each type of pathogens. They also provide long-term immunity against specific pathogens.
What is the specific immune response dependent on?
Lymphocytes.
What is a T lymphocyte?
Also known as T cells. They mature in the thymus gland. They are involved in their cellular response where they respond to antigens presented on the body cells.