6.3.1 - Non-specific response Flashcards
What is innate immunity?
Immunity that you’re born with.
What does the hypothalamus do when your body is infected with a pathogen? (during a fever)
Raises your body temperature.
What is a normal body temperature?
37 degrees
Why are fevers helpful?
The higher body temperature reduces the efficiency of the reproduction of pathogens.
The body’s specific response systems work better at higher temperatures
What can a body temperature over 40 degrees for prolonged periods of time do?
Damage tissues
Where are mast cells found?
Connective tissues
What chemical do both basophils and mast cells release?
Histamines
What do histamines do in the process of inflammation?
They cause blood vessels to dilate causing local heat and redness.
This heat makes it harder for pathogens to reproduce.
When histamines are released, they cause blood vessels to dilate.
What are the consequences of this?
They cause plasma, containing leukocytes and antibodies, to be forces out of capillaries.
Increased blood flow through these vessels so an increase in temperature.
Do mast cells circulate in the bloodstream?
NO
What do mast cells release when they become activated when they come into contact with foreign antigens or pathogens?
Histamines
What do phagocytes do to pathogens?
Engulf them
Do basophils circulate in the blood stream?
YES
Describe the roles and functions of eosinophils.
They are a type of phagocyte.
They have a lobed nucleus that allows them to morph shape in order to engulf pathogens.
They produce chemicals which counteract the inflammatory histamines produced by mast cells. Balancing the histamines that are reproduced.
What are natural killer cells?
A type of leukocyte that can recognise cells that are infected with a virus and cancer cells.
They release proteins that induce programmed cell death by perforating the membrane of the damaged cell.
They are able to control viral infections.
