Immune System Flashcards
What’s the general function of line 1?
Destroy any type of germ that’s unknown to your body. Additionally, they are always working day in and day out (no activation time). The basic function is to keep germs out of the body. (Won’t be perfect).
What’s the general function of line 2?
Destroy any type of germ that’s not part of your own body. Additionally, they are always working day in and day out (no activation time). The basic function is to destroy germs that have entered the body but will be non-specific meaning any germs.
What’s the general function of line 3?
They focus on one specific target. Additionally, it takes one week to activate. The basic function is to destroy germs that have entered the body but will work to destroy specific germs.
Discuss the amount of “activation” time needed for your non-specific vs. specific defenses.
No activation time for non-specific as they are already made and about 1 week for specific defenses.
What is an antigen?
Any foreign substance that activates your immune system. Examples include pathogens and anything you consider an allergen (mold/pollen)
What are the functions of antibodies?
Neutralize/disable the pathogen by surrounding it and attract the attention of macrophages to ingest the antigen-antibody complex
What do tonsils do?
secretes mucus to trap pathogens in the throat
What are lymph nodes?
structures that store white blood cells
What do lymph vessels do?
circulate lymph fluid (lymph = a clear fluid containing white blood cells)
What is a thymus?
an organ in front of the heart that is used for development of T cells
What is role of appendix?
secretes mucus to trap pathogens in the colon
What is a spleen?
an organ that is rich in white blood cells; it filters the blood to remove cell debris and pathogens
What is role of a bone marrow?
site of blood cell production; makes red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
What does the skin do in line 1?
Prevents pathogens in your environment from entering your body
Where in the body are mucous membranes located for line 1?
Lines the inside of the 1)respiratory system (nose, throat, lungs), 2) Digestive System, 3) Urinary System (kidneys, urethra (where pee comes out), etc.), and 4) Reproductive system. They produce mucus.
What’s the role of goblet cells?
makes mucus
What’s the role of cilia cells?
motor proteins that help remove/clear mucus from body
What’s the role of basal cells?
form new mucous membrane cells and replace any dead cells
What is mucus made of and it’s function?
Made from water and mucin protein, it’s function is to trap germs allergens (pollens), and irritants (smoke ash)
What are two places of acidic secretions and their functions?
Occur in the stomach which kills germs to protect against food-borne illnesses and the vaginal tract in females which produces acid (slightly) to deter pathogen growth
What are lysozymes, it’s target, location, and killing method?
Lysozymes are anti-bacterial proteins that target bacteria only. Located in tears, saliva, and sweat, they kill bacteria by lysis (death by rupturing or explosion)
What are the three cells that make up the mucous membrane?
Goblet, cilia, and basal cells.
What is the most abundant white blood cell you have and why?
Phagocytic white blood cells (WBC) called neutrophils as they die once they are phagocytized (pathogens are ingested)
What is the target of neutrophils?
Bacteria and fungi (yeast cells)
What is the destruction method of neutrophils?
Phagocytosis—> process where pathogens (germs) or cells are ingested and destroyed
What is the target of eosinophil?
Parasitic worms (tape and round worms)
What are the two targets of macrophage?
Destroy pathogens directly (Bacteria, fungi) and destroy abnormal body cells (cancer cells, virus-infected cells, damaged cells)
What is the target of NK cells?
Abnormal body cells (cancer cells and virus-infected cells)
What are the two destruction methods of eosinophil?
Phagocytosis—> process where pathogens (germs) or cells are ingested and destroyed and the release of superoxides to destroy the cell membranes of the parasitic worms
What is the destruction method macrophage?
Phagocytosis—> process where pathogens (germs) or cells are ingested and destroyed
What is the destruction method of NK cells?
NK cells release perforin (protein molecules) to rupture and lyse abnormal cells. Unlike Cytotoxic cells, they have no activation time required, are non-specific, and destroy all types of targets
How do NK cells identify abnormal cells?
All healthy cells have a major histocompatibility complex on top and abnormal cells don’t have that id card (MHC) so they can easily identify it.
What are interferons and what is their function?
They are antimicrobial proteins released from virus-infected cells that will die
that come into play when you have a viral infection. They essentially alarm your system against viral infections and bind to healthy cells to let them know if a viral attack is occurring which allows for a healthy cell to create anti-viral protein which prevents viral replication
What do B cells make and what’s their interaction within our body?
When looking at B cell interaction which makes antibodies, the B cell locates the target and binds to them. Once they find the target, they will release antibodies that surround and neutralize the threat. From there, macrophage ingests pathogens marked with antibodies
What are memory b cells?
Created during 1st time exposure to a pathogen and used during re-exposure to the same pathogen, they allow immune system to respond stronger and faster to the same pathogen
What does helper t cell activate?
-Activates Line 3 (coordinator), B cells to make antibodies, and cytotoxic t cells to destroy abnormal cells
What is target of cytotoxic t cells?
Abnormal body cells (cancer cells and virus-infected cells)
What is the destruction method of cytotoxic t cells?
T-cells release perforin (protein molecules) to rupture abnormal cells (liver cancer) and destroy them through lysis
