Chapter 37 - Human Defence System Flashcards
Pathogen
An organism that causes disease
Immunity
The ability to resist infection
General defence system
Acts as a barrier to all pathogens attempting to gain entry into the human body
1st line of general defence
Skin, clotting, lysozyme, sebaceous glands, mucus, cilia, acid, beneficial bacteria
2nd line of defence
Phagocytes, defence proteins, inflammation
Specific defence system
Attacks particular pathogens
Specific defence system works by
Production of antibodies, white blood cells destroying body cells that have been infected
Antigen
A foreign molecule that stimulates the production of antibodies
Antibody
A protein produced by white blood cells (lymphocytes) in response to a specific antigen
Induced immunity
The ability to resist disease caused by specific pathogens by the production of antibodies
Active immunity
The production of a persons own antibodies in response to foreign antigens that enter the body
Natural active immunity
Occurs when a pathogen enters the body in the normal way
Artificial active immunity
When a pathogen is medically introduced into the body
Vaccine
A non-disease causing dose of a pathogen (or it’s toxin), which triggers the production of antibodies
Passive immunity
When individuals are given antibodies that were formed by another organism
