Topic 5: The Immune System Flashcards
(97 cards)
What are the three strategies for defending against foreign organisms and molecules or cancer cells? (3)
- physical and chemical surface barriers
- internal cellular and chemical defenses
- immune response
What is the function of physical and chemical surface barriers?
nonspecific; keep foreign organisms or molecules out
What is the function of the internal cellular and chemical defenses?
nonspecific; attack any foreign organism or molecule that gets past the surface barriers
What is the function of immune response?
specific; destroy specific targets and remember them
What are the general functions of immunity? (3)
- defends against infection by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc
- destroys and recycle worn-out cells (e.g., erythrocytes)
- identifies and destroys abnormal (cancer) cells
When doesn’t immunity work? (3)
- allergies - hypersensitive reaction to an allergen
- autoimmune diseases (e.g. diabetes mellitus type 1)
- limits tissue/organ transplants
What are the types of immunity?
- innate
- acquired
How is innate immunity classified?
- non-specific
- inherited
- rapid
4, no rapid
How is acquired immunity classified?
- specific
- adaptive
- slower
- memory
What are our first line of defenses (nonspecific defense mechanisms)?
- skin
- mucous membranes
- secretions of skin and mucous membranes
What are our second line of defenses (nonspecific defense mechanisms)?
- phagocytic white blood cells
- antimicrobial proteins
- inflammatory response
What are our third line of defenses (specific defense mechanisms)?
- lymphocytes
- antibodies
What is the function of tears? (2)
- wash away irritating substances and microbes
- lysozymes kill many bacteria
What is the function of skin (3)?
- provides a physical barrier to the entrance of microbes
- acidic pH discourages the growth of organisms
- sweat and oil gland secretions kill many bacteria
What is the function of the large intestine?
normal bacterial inhabitants keep invaders in check
What is the function of saliva?
washes microbes from the teeth and mucous membranes of the mouth
What is the function of the respiratory tract? (2)
- mucus traps organisms
- cilia sweep away trapped organisms
What is the function of the stomach?
acid kills organisms
What is the function of the urinary bladder?
urine washes microbes from urethra
What is the function of phagocytes (WBCs)?
engulfs pathogens
What are the types of phagocytes?
- neutrophils
- macrophages
- dendritic cells
What is the function of neutrophils?
circulate in the blood looking for pathogens
What is the function of macrophages?
reside inside organs and tissues (e.g. spleen)
What is the function of dendritic cells?
stimulate development of adaptive immunity