Chapter 17 study guide Flashcards
can be characterized as a multifaceted system of defenses that targets invading
pathogens in a nonspecific manner
Nonspecific innate immunity
nonspecific innate immunity
physical defenses
chemical defenses
cellular defenses
physical barriers
Physical defenses
Mechanical defenses
Microbiome
chemical defenses
chemicals and enzymes in body fluids
antimicrobial peptides
plasma protein mediators
cytokines
inflammation eliciting mediators
cellular defenses
granulocytes
agranulocytes
the endothelial cells that line blood vessels have very tight ______ junctions, blocking microbes from gaining access to the bloodstream.
cell to cell junctions
_______ rivet two adjacent
cells together, preventing or limiting material exchange through the spaces between them.
tight junctions
_____ have intermediate fibers that act
like shoelaces, tying two cells together, allowing small materials to pass through the resulting spaces.
desmosomes
____ are channels between
two cells that permit their communication via signals.
gap junctions
One of the body’s most important physical barriers is the skin barrier, which is composed of three layers of closely
packed cells.
epidermis - thin upper layer
dermis - hair follicles, sweat glands, nerves and blood vessels
hypodermis- fatty layer contains blood and lymph
- How does our skin act as a physical barrier against infection?
The skin’s surface is made of keratin-filled, dead cells, forming a tough, dense barrier.
Fatty acids on the skin create a dry, salty, and acidic environment that inhibits microbial growth.
Dead skin cells are shed regularly, removing attached microbes.
New cells replace shed skin, maintaining an ongoing protective barrier.
The ______ lining the nose, mouth, lungs, and urinary and digestive tracts provide another nonspecific
barrier against potential pathogens.
mucous membranes
How does mucus act as a physical barrier against infection?
Mucus traps debris, particulate matter, and microbes, protecting fragile cell layers beneath it. It also contains antimicrobial peptides.
What kinds of cells produce mucus?
epithelial and goblet cells
Where are mucous membranes found?
nose, mouth, lungs, urinary tract, and digestive tract.
What is the mucociliary escalator and how does it protect against infection?
mucociliary escalator
The _____ is the movement of cilia in the respiratory tract that propels mucus (with trapped debris and microbes) out of the lungs, either by coughing, sneezing, or swallowing.
mucociliary escalator
What common activity damages cilia, increasing the risk of respiratory infections?
smoking
moves mucus and trapped microbes through the digestive tract and out of the body in feces.
Peristalsis
- List some common mechanical defenses against infection.
Shedding of skin cells
Expulsion of mucus via the mucociliary escalator
Excretion of feces through intestinal peristalsis
Flushing action of urine
Flushing action of tears
Blinking to wash debris away from the eyes
Eyelashes and eyelids preventing dust and microorganisms from reaching the eye
Our _____ protects against infection by occupying cellular binding sites and competing for nutrients with pathogens
microbiome
is an endogenous mediator, providing an additional layer of defense by helping seal off the pore of the hair follicle,
preventing bacteria on the skin’s surface from invading sweat glands and surrounding tissue
sebum
In the oral cavity, saliva contains mediators such as lactoperoxidase enzymes, and mucus secreted by the esophagus contains
the antibacterial enzyme ____.
lysozyme
In the stomach, highly acidic ____kills most microbes. In the lower
digestive tract, the intestines have pancreatic and intestinal enzymes, antibacterial peptides (cryptins), bile
produced from the liver, and specialized Paneth cells that produce lysozyme.
gastric fluids
In the urinary tract, urine flushes microbes out of the body during ______. Furthermore, the slight acidity of urine
(the average pH is about 6) inhibits the growth of many microbes and potential pathogens in the urinary tract.
urination
The female reproductive system employs ____, an exogenously produced chemical mediator, to inhibit microbial
growth.
lactate
Lactobacilli in the area ferment glycogen to produce ______, lowering the pH in the vagina and inhibiting
transient microbiota, opportunistic pathogens like Candida (a yeast associated with vaginal infections), and other
pathogens responsible for sexually transmitted diseases.
lactate
In the ears, _____ exhibits antimicrobial properties due to the presence of fatty acids, which lower the
pH to between 3 and 5.
ear wax