Immune System Flashcards
What do white blood cells do?
Kill pathogens
What is Phagocytosis?
Where a WBC engulfs and digests a pathogen.
What are on the surface of pathogens?
Unique molecules called antigens.
What is a B-lymphocyte?
A WBC which produces antibodies.
What is an antibody?
A protein which locks onto invading cells so that they can be found and destroyed by WBCs.
Are antibodies specific?
Yes, they will only lock on to one antigen from one pathogen.
What happens when a B-lymphocyte comes across a foreign antigen?
They produce antibodies for that pathogen, which are then produced rapidly and spread around the body to find all similar pathogens.
How does someone become immune to a pathogen?
If they have already been infected with the same pathogen, the B-lymphocytes will rapidly produce the same antibody as the one before. It’s so rapid that you won’t get ill.
What are antitoxins?
Substances That counteract toxins produced by bacteria.
