Disorders of the Immune System Flashcards
A special function of lymphocytes and marcophages that defend the body against foreign (non-self) threats, mainly microbes by attacking and destroying the foreign substance with the purpose of preventing or limiting reactions
Immunity
the body will attack its own tissues in addition to foreign ones
Autoimmunity
What are examples of non-self mechanisms- physical barriers
Skin
Sclera
What protects the respiratory tract?
o Have a mucus film that catches microbes that we breath in
o If microbes get in they are swept upward to the throat by bronchial cilia
What protects the GI system?
o Protective layer of mucus and cilia
o Gastric acid
What protects the genitourinary system?
o Sterile urine helps flush things out
What are characteristics of the lymphatic system?
- House and support immune cells
- Filter tissue fluid for non-self content
- Absorb dietary fats and deliver them to the blood
Primary lymph organs (2)
- Bone Marrow
- Thymus
Secondary Lymphoid Organs
- Tonsils
- Lymph nodes
- Specialized lymph nodules
originate in the capillaries and absorb fluid from interstitial space
Lymphatic vessels
Identical to interstitial fluid
Lymph fluid
small lymphoid organs composed of immune cells
- Also trap malignant tumor cells that spread from one tissue to another
Lymph nodes
- Nodules of immune system cells that are situated at sites where pathogens frequently enter the body
- Seen in the respiratory and GI tracts
Mucosal-Associated Lymph Tissue
What are the 2 types of tissue in the spleen?
Red Pulp and White Pulp
- Broad venous spaces filled with slow moving blood, lymphocytes, and macrophages- old cells are removed and nonself content is detected
- Filters red blood cells
Red Pulp
- Nodules of lymphocytes and macrophages
- Function like lymph nodes to filter blood for non-self content
- Filters blood and helps fight against infection
White Pulp
This is your bodies natural immunity
- present at birth
- Does not require prior exposure
- Fast response
Innate Immunity
- Acquired immunity
- Slower- needs to be programed
- Specific response to specific invader
Adaptive Immunity
What response is your immune response?
Adaptive Immunity
is a substance capable of starting an adaptive immune response
o Almost all are non-self proteins
Antigens
small protein molecules that stimulate an immune response by combining with a normal protein and when they are combined the combination becomes non-self
Haptens
This response is…
o Initial reaction to antigen exposure
o Takes about a week because the antigen is foreign
Primary Immune Response
This response is quicker because the immune system has memorized the first encounter
Secondary Immune Response
These cells are large and phagocytic, they circulate freely and migrate to all tissues and they capture antigens and prepare them for presentation to the T-lymphocytes
Macrophages
These cells capture antigens and prepare them for presentation to T lymphocytes
-Metabolizes the immune system to identify and attack the antigen
Antigen presenting cells
These are the effector cells of the immune system
Lymphocytes
These cells are part of the adaptive system
- They migrate to the thymus and mature there
- Agents of cellular/delayed/adaptive immune response
T lymphocytes
These cells are part of the adaptive system
- Stay in the bone marrow and mature there
- Agents of the humoral/antibody/adaptive immune response
B lymphocytes
These cells are part of the innate immune response
- They are speedy and aggressive
- Instantly recognize, attack, and kill bad cells
NK cells (Natural Killer Cells)
When are antibodies produced?
In response to freely circulating antigen from extracellular threats
What is the response of the B cells?
- B cells activate and turn into plasma cells
- Some turn into memory B cells
What are plasma cells?
Antibody secreting B cells that reproduce a clone of identical cells to amplify their antibody producing power
What is the role of memory B cells?
Recognize the antigen in case it appears again