2.8.8 Human Transport Systems: White Blood Cells & Immunity

Question 1

White blood cells are part of what?

Answer 1

The body’s immune system

Question 2

What do these specialised cells defend against?

Answer 2

pathogenic microorganisms

Question 3

The two main types of white blood cell are?

Answer 3

Phagocytes

Lymphocytes

Question 4

What does Phagocytes carry out?

Answer 4

Phagocytes carry out phagocytosis by engulfing and digesting pathogens

Question 5

What can Phogocytes detect with their sensitive cell membran?

Answer 5

chemicals produced by pathogenic cells

Question 6

What happens when they encounter the pathogenic cell?

Answer 6

They will engulf it and release digestive enzymes to digest it

Question 7

What immune response is this?

Answer 7

Non-specific immune response

Question 8

What 2 factors make Phogocytes easily recognisable under the microscope?

Answer 8

Their multi-lobed nucleus and their granular cytoplasm

Question 9

What 2 factors make Lymphocytes easily recognisable under the microscope?

Answer 9

Their large round nucleus which takes up nearly the whole cell and their clear, non-granular cytoplasm

Question 10

Do Lymphocytes produce antibodies?

Answer 10

Yes

Question 11

What shaped proteins are antibodies?

Answer 11

Y- shaped that is specific to the antigens on the surface of the pathogen

Question 12

Why is this a specific type of immune response?

Answer 12

The antibodies produced will only fit one type of antigen on a pathogen

Question 13

Antibodies attach to the antigens and cause what?

Answer 13

agglutination (clumping together)

Question 14

Can the pathogenic cells move very easily or not?

Answer 14

No

Question 15

At the same time, chemicals are released that signal to what?

Answer 15

Phagocytes that there are cells present that need to be destroyed

Question 16

Lymphocytes also produce antitoxins to what?

Answer 16

To neutralise toxins released by pathogens

Question 17

The body’s immune system is highly complex, with white blood cells being what?

Answer 17

The main component

Question 18

Once a pathogen has entered the body the role of the immune system is what?

Answer 18

To prevent the infectious organism from reproducing and to destroy it

Question 19

An organism has immunity when they have sufficient levels of antibodies to what?

Answer 19

To protect it from a particular disease

Question 20

What is the result of this immunity?

Answer 20

They do not suffer from the disease or its symptoms

Question 21

In response to infection, The pathogen enters the blood stream and what?

Answer 21

Multiplies

Question 22

What causes symptoms in the patient?

Answer 22

A release of toxins (in the case of bacteria) and infection of body cells

Question 23

What do Phagocytes that encounter the pathogen recognise?

Answer 23

That it is an invading pathogen and engulf and digest (non-specific response)

Question 24

When the pathogen eventually encounters a lymphocyte, it recognises what?

Answer 24

Antigens

Question 25

What does the lymphocyte start to produce to combat that particular pathogen?

Answer 25

Specific antibodies

Question 26

The lymphocyte also clones itself to what?

Answer 26

To produce lots of lymphocytes (all producing the specific antibody required)

Question 27

Antibodies cause agglutination of what?

Answer 27

Pathogens

Question 28

Phagocytes engulf and digest what?

Answer 28

The agglutinated pathogens

Question 29

After the patient has recovered, what do they retain?

Answer 29

They retain antibodies specific to the disease as well as memory cells

Question 30

If the patient encounters the same pathogen again, what will it trigger?

Answer 30

A secondary immune response

Question 31

Memory cells can produce much larger quantities of the required antibody in a much shorter time because?

Answer 31

They fight off the pathogen before the patient suffers any symptoms

Question 32

Exam Tip

Answer 32

Make sure you know the difference between antigen, antibody and antitoxin:

An antigen is a molecule found on the surface of a cell
An antibody is a protein made by lymphocytes that is complementary to an antigen and, when attached, clumps them together and signals the cells they are on for destruction
An antitoxin is a protein that neutralises the toxins produced by bacteria