Immune Cells Flashcards
Neutrophils
Location:
Circulate in blood (enter tissues in case of infection or trauma)
Function:
Phagocytize pathogens (esp. bacteria and fungi)
Eosinophils
Location:
Mostly in mucous membranes
(digestive, respiratory, urinary, reproductive tracts)
Function:
- Attack multicellular parasites (ex. worms)
- Some phagocytosis
- Release inflammatory substances
during allergic responses
(ex. asthma,hay fever)
Basophils
Location: Blood
Function:
Release a variety of chemicals
that mediate inflammatory and allergic responses:
- histamine (vasodilator + and ↑ capillary permeability)
- heparin(anticoagulant)
Mast Cells
Location:
Connective tissues of dermis and mucosa
Function:
Release a variety of chemicals
that mediate inflammatory and allergic responses:
- histamine (vasodilator + and ↑ capillary permeability)
- heparin(anticoagulant)
Lymphocytes T and B
Location:
Reside in lymphatic system
Function:
Manage the immune response
Natural Killer,
NK cell
(≈ 10% of all
lymphocytes)
Location:
Lymphatic organs and blood
stream
Function:
Destroys defective body cells
(cancerous or infected by viruses)
Monocyte
Location:
Circulate in blood for 1-3 day,
enter tissues
& transform into either dendritic cells or macrophages
Function:
- Phagocytize pathogens
- Present foreign particles (antigens) to other immune cells in order to activate them (“antigen presentation”)
Macrophage
Location:
Various tissues & organs
Function:
- Phagocytize pathogens
- Present foreign particles (antigens) to other immune cells in order to activate them (“antigen presentation”)
Dendritic cell
Loacation:
Epithelial layers of skin & mucosal membranes
Function:
- Phagocytize pathogens
- Present foreign particles (antigens) to other immune cells in order to activate them (“antigen presentation”)
