Immune System Flashcards
What is immunology?
The study of an organism defence system in health and disease
What is the immune system composed of?
Organs, cells and molecules
What is the immune system?
An organised system of organs cells and molecules that interact together to defend the body against disease
What are three examples of diseases affected by the immune response?
Infectious Diseases (HIV/AIDS/Tuberculosis)
Inflammatory Diseases (Artheritis/Lupus/Crohns)
Cancer
What are the four microbes (smallest to biggest)?
Viruses
Bacteria
Fungi
Protozoa
What organs are in primary lymphoid and what are their functions?
Bone marrow : source of stem cells that develop into cells of innate and adaptive responses
Thymus : school for white blood cells called T cells, T cells learn not to react with themself (only 10% succeed at learning this)
What organs are in secondary lymphoid and what are their functions?
Spleen : site of initiate for immune responses against blood-borne pathogens
Lymph nodes : located along lymphatic vessels, lymph fluid from blood and tissue is filtered, site of initiation of immune responses
What are the parts of the physical barrier of the skin?
Epidermis is the dead cells, keratin and phagocytic immune cells
Dendritic cells have large SA and are alert when there is a stimulus
Dermis is a thick layer of connective tissue, collagen and blood vessels and phagocytic immune cells
The outer layer is constantly renewed
How does the skin have chemical defences?
Antomicrobial peptides form pores in microbial cell membranes
Lysozyme breaks down bacterial cell walls and kills bacteria
Sebum has a low pH and the skin is hypertonic which are both hostile environments for bacteria
What is the mucous membrane?
1-2 layers
Epithelium : tightly packed live cells, constantly renewed, mucus producing goblet cells
Top layer is mucus which keeps outer layer moist and traps microbes in it making it hard for them to move
Where are mucosal membranes?
Line parts of the body that lead to the outside and are exposed to air e.g. urinal tract
What are cilia in the mucociliary escalator?
Hair like projections that move bits of microbes along and are pushed up pharynx causing us to cough up mucus to remove unwanted microbes that were trying to reach lungs
How does smoking affect cilia?
Smoking paralyses cilia meaning pathogens will be able to move into lungs -> negative effects
What are some chemical defences of mucosal surfaces?
Low pH in stomach = very acidic
Bile in gall bladder = toxic
Mucus
Lysozyme
What are features of innate immunity?
Already in place
Rapid
Fixed
Limited specifications
Has no specific memory
e.g. surface barriers and internal defences
