body defenses Flashcards
what do non-specific defenses do?
act on all invading organisms and toxins in the same manner
what are two structural barriers?
skin and mucous membranes
describe skin
dry, salty, slightly acidic, keratinized
what are 3 common skin inhabitants
staphylococcus G(+) Bacillus G(+) Corynebacteria G(+)
how would you classify the skin inhabitants?
opportunistic
what can infect hair, nails, and skin?
fungi
what are two types of skin infections?
ring worm and skin rot
where are four places you can find mucous membranes?
respiratory tract, conjunctiva, genitourinary tract, gastrointestinal tract
what are three things mucus contains?
lysozomes, acids, Ab
what does the respiratory tract have to help move things up and out?
cilia
what happens if somthing gets passed the cilia into the lungs/
the lungs have cells that are phagocytic, and if there is build up we cough
what is microbial antagonism?
symbiotic relationship of normal flora in GI system keeping pathogens in check
is the mouth a high or low ph?
low
how do viruses invade the body/
through mucous membranes such as eyes, respiratory tract, and mouth
what do fatty acids do?
they are directly toxic or upset the cell membranes
what do acids in sweat do?
help maintain a low pH that bacteria do not like
what ph do acids in sweat maintain?
4-6
where is hydrochloric acid?
in the stomach
what organisim can survive hydrochloric acid?
helibacter pylori
what do lysozomes do?
help digest cell walls, especially G(+)
what are three digestive enzymes?
amylase, tripsin, lipase
what do digestive enzymes do?
digest starch, fat, protien, and can upset cell membranes and cell walls
what is the complement system?
a set of 20 proteins in circulation that assist the immune system
what is interferon?
somthing virally infected body cells secrete that trigger surrounding healthy cells to produce antiviral protiens which limit viral speed
what are cell mediated defenses?
leukocytes, specialized cells capable of acting in specific manner toward individual pathogens
what are the first line of defense against bacteria?
neutrophils which are phagocytic
