immune system

Question 1

what is phagocytosis

Answer 1

cell eats foreign matter

Question 2

what is a pathogen

Answer 2

anything that can cause a disease = germ

Question 3

what are the types of pathogens

Answer 3

bacteria
viruses
fungi
worms
parasites

Question 4

why do we need good bacteria

Answer 4

te keep away bad bacteria

Question 5

what are our barriers against bacteria

Answer 5

skin, blood, mucous membranes
(digestive & respiratory tract)

Question 6

what are responses to pathogens

Answer 6

phagocytes
inflammatory response
fever

Question 7

how do phagocytes know what to eat

Answer 7

foreign celss are labelled by molecular tags

Question 8

what is the function of the immune system

Answer 8

protect against infections
repair wounds
defend against cancers

Question 9

how can infections enter the body

Answer 9

skin/mouth/ears/nose/throat/lungs/intestinal tract/openings of urinary + genital organs

Question 10

what are the two basic defenders of the body

Answer 10

cells: phagocytes
chemicals: antibodies

Question 11

what are antibodies

Answer 11

Y-shaped protein
each responds to a specific antigen

Question 12

what is the purpose of the special section of an antibody

Answer 12

sensitive to a specific antigen+ binds to it in some way

Question 13

where is the immune system located

Answer 13

mostly in the lymph glands (linked by lymph vessels),tonsils, spleen, thymus…

Question 14

when do the germs win

Answer 14

large invasion force
weak immune system

Question 15

what can weaken the immune system

Answer 15

old age, drugs and diseases

Question 16

what is an auto-immune disorder

Answer 16

when the body’s immune system attacks (part of) itself

Question 17

how do you get an auto-immune disorder

Answer 17

Runs in families, but environmental trigger is also required

Question 18

what are the two groups of auto-immune disorders

Answer 18

1. affecting a single organ
2. affecting cells or tissues that are present in more than one organ

Question 19

what are some auto-immune disorders

Answer 19

systemic lupus erythematosus
rheumatoid arthritis
primary biliary cirrhosis

Question 20

what does SLE stand for

Answer 20

systemic lupus erythematosus

Question 21

what are symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus

Answer 21

rash across the cheeks, painful joints,may also affect kidneys/heart/brain

Question 22

what does rheumatoid arthritis do

Answer 22

destroys the lining of joints & tendons
-> they become chronically inflamed, painful and deformed

Question 23

what does primary biliary cirrhosis do

Answer 23

destroys the bile ducts in the liver➔
disruption of the flow of bile /
-> jaundice

Question 24

what is immunodeficiency

Answer 24

immune system is under active
fails to deal with invaders
-> infection prone

Question 25

what are causes of immunodeficiency

Answer 25

genetical lack of lymphocytes or antibody,malnutrition, infections (e.g. aids, glandular fever, …)

Question 26

how do you get a viral infection

Answer 26

inhale a few virus particles:
into mucus via cilia to stomach

normal: virus killed
occasionally: virus attacks

Question 27

what do the lymphocytes in case of attack

Answer 27

interferon
killer lymphocytes destroy the infected cells

Question 28

what does interferon do

Answer 28

shuts down protein synthesis in cells close to the site of infection
-> virus needs these to spread

Question 29

Why don’t B-memory cells prevent us from getting influenza twice

Answer 29

Viruses are able to change their outer coat of protein:
→ in this way they avoid being recognized!

Question 30

how do we fight a bacterial infection

Answer 30

chemical reactions by complement proteins:e.g. stick to microbes (‘label’) or attract phagocytic cells

+ dilating effect on blood vessels= makes the wound hot, swollen + painful

Question 31

are we clean

Answer 31

no we carry a plethora of different germs, these are either good or harmless to our health. Problems occur when we get sick/older/injured

Question 32

Is it safe for a dog to lick a baby

Answer 32

depends, it’s hard to contract diseases from a dog because it’s a different breed. However dogs also lick their private parts and eat fecal matter so it’s not really hygiënic

+ babies make eye contact which a dog can see as a challenge in dominance