Immune System Flashcards
What are the two systems in the immune system?
Innate immunity and adaptive immunity
What is the function of the immune system?
to protect us from harmful agents
What is innate immunity
Immediate response to a range of substances; the immunity you are born with
What is adaptive immunity?
Delayed response to a specific antigen. Responds to different foreign substances which we are exposed to in our life time.
What are the four sources of specific immunity?
Natural > inhert it
Induced > healthcare
Active > your immune system does the work
Passive > you were given it
What is an infectious agent? Give hte five examples
Organisms that cause damage or death to the host organism they invade
Bacteria Viruses Fungi Protozoans Multicellular parasites
What is a viruses? Give some examples
Not cells. Smaller than a bacteria cell. They are made up of DNA or RNA within a protein capsid. Viruses must enter a cell to replicate. Viral disease e.g. common cold, chicken pox and HIV.
What is fungi? Give some examples of it
Eukaryotic cells which have a cell wall external to the plasma membrane. E.g. molds, yeast and multicellular fungi.
What are protozoans? Give an example
Eukaryotic cells which do not have a cell wall e.g. malaria
What are muticellular parasites? Give an example
Microscopic organisms that lives’ in a host from where they take nourishment. E.g. tapeworms
What is a primary response?
First time you are exposed to it you get it, you become immune to it after 10 or 15 days
What is a secondary response?
You are already immune to it so you do not get infection
What are cytokines?
Small, soluble proteins produced by cells
What does the mucous membrane do in the innate immunity?
Barrier to micro-organisms
What are neutrophils?
first to arrive at the site of infection