Immune System Flashcards
What is the purpose of the immune system?
To defend and protect the body against outside substances that might harm it
What are pathogens?
Substances/organisms from outside of the body that can affect homeostasis
What are the four types of pathogens?
Bacteria, virsuses, protists, fungi
Which of the four pathogen types are alive?
Bacteria, fungi, and protists
Why aren’t virsuses considered alive?
They can’t reproduce on their own and do not seek out energy
What are the three lines of defense in the immune system?
1st: Protective barriers: skin, mucus, saliva
2nd: Patrols: Macrophages (free-roaming white blood cells
3rd: Targeted defense: B-Cells produce antibodies to stop pathogens from doing any harm and flag them for destruction by a macrophage
What are antigens?
Chemicals produced by or on the surface of a pathogen
What are antibodies?
Chemicals produced by B-cells in the immune system to bind to antigens; prevents them from doing damage and flags them for destruction by a macrophage
What is the inflammatory response?
The body’s reaction to white blood cells multiplying and moving in to attack a pathogen. Includes fever, increased mucus, fatigue, the usual “sick” symptoms
