Host Defense Mechanisms and the Immune Response Flashcards
What is the order of the body’s defense mechanisms?
Invading microorganisms > physical barriers > innate immunity > specific immunity
What is included in the physical barriers (first line of defense)?
- Skin
- Coughing/sneezing
- Mucus flow
- Saliva
- Tears
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Urine
How does the integument work to protect the body?
Through four different mechanisms:
- Desquamation
- Desiccation
- Low pH
- Resident bacteria flora
What is desquamation?
The cells on the skin continuously slough off to prevent bacteria from becoming attached to the body
What is desiccation?
Keeps the cells on the skin dry; bacteria thrive in warm, moist areas
What is low pH?
More acidic; sebaceous glands of the skin secrete sebum to keep pH low
What is resident bacteria flora?
Normal bacteria on the skin that takes up space so no abnormal/pathogenic bacteria can reside
How does the GI tract work to protect the body?
- Saliva
- Normal bacterial flora
- Low pH
- Lysozyme
How does the urinary tract work to protect the body?
- Low pH
- Urine flow
- Glycogen
Why is glycogen important for urinary tract of adult reproductive females?
Because the vagina is lined with squamous epithelium containing glycogen, therefore when cells slough off, it provides a substrate for lactobacilli
What is lactobacilli?
It produces lactic acid which keeps the pH of the vagina low
How do the mammary glands work to protect the body?
- Milk flow
- Lactenins
- Keratin plug
What is the keratin plug of the mammary glands?
It blocks T-Orifice when animal is not lactating
What is lactenins in regards to the mammary glands?
They contain compliment protein, lysozyme, and lactoferrin, which binds to bacteria so they can’t reproduce
How does the respiratory tract work to protect the body?
- Turbulence
- Particle filtration
What is turbulence in the respiratory tract?
- Turbinate bones - cause irregular airflow and warms the air
- Mucous - bacteria get caught and then either become swallowed or expelled
Why is particle size important in the respiratory tract?
It provides filtration through out
- upper respiratory - 15 um
- bronchi - 10 um
- bronchioles - 5 um
- alveoli - 1 um
Where are antibodies produced?
On mucosal surfaces
What is another work for antibodies?
Immunoglobulins
What are the four most important immunoglobulins produced in the body?
- IgA
- IgM
- IgE
- IgG
What is IgA?
- It protects body surfaces and neutralizes viruses, viral and bacterial enzymes
- Found in saliva, intestinal fluid, nasal and tracheal secretions, tears, milk, colostrum, urine and urogenital secretions
- Does not activate a compliment
What is the most important function of IgA?
Immune exclusion; it keeps things out!
What is IgM?
- Made and secreted by plasma cells in the spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow
- Major immunoglobulin produced in the primary immune response and with the 2nd highest concentration in blood
What is IgE?
- Backs up IgA and works through immune elimination
- Causes degranulation of mast cells and basophils by releasing histamine
- Extremely low concentrations in serum