B6 Preventing And Treating Disease Flashcards
What non-specific systems does the body use to prevent pathogens getting into it?
- skin
- cilia and mucus in the nose, trachea, and bronchi
- stomach acid
What three functions do white blood cells have?
phagocytosis, producing antibodies, producing antitoxins
What happens during phagocytosis?
phagocyte is attracted to the area of infection, engulfs a pathogen, and releases enzymes to digest the pathogen
What are antigens?
proteins on the surface of a pathogen
Why are antibodies a specific defence?
antibodies have to be the right shape for a pathogen’s unique antigens, so they target a specific pathogen
What is the function of an antitoxin?
neutralise toxins produced by pathogens by binding to them
What does a vaccine contain?
small quantities of a dead or inactive form of a pathogen
How does vaccination protect against a specific pathogen?
vaccination stimulates the body to produce antibodies against a specific pathogen - if the same pathogen renters the body, white blood cells rapidly produce the correct antibodies
What is herd immunity?
when most of a population is vaccinated against a disease, meaning it is less likely to spread
What is an antibiotic?
a drug that kills bacteria but not viruses
What do painkillers do?
treat some symptoms of diseases and relieve pain
What properties of new drugs are clinical trials designed to test?
toxicity, efficacy, and optimum dose
What happens in the pre-clinical stage of a drug trial?
drug is tested on cells, tissues, and live animals
What is a placebo?
medicine with no effect that is given to patients instead of the real drug in a trial
What is a double-blind trial?
a trial where neither patients nor doctors know who receives the real drug and who receives the placebo
