Immunity Study Questions

Question 1

what is the main function of the immune system?

Answer 1

protect the body from foreign invaders and prevent disease

Question 2

what organs are involved in immunity?

Answer 2

spleen, lymph nodes, thymus, galt, bone marrow

Question 3

how does the lymphatic system protect the body from disease?

Answer 3

it filters lymph to remove potential pathogens before they can enter the circulatory system

Question 4

where is malt found?

Answer 4

tonsils (pharynx), adenoids (pharynx), peyer’s patches (intestines), and (in rabbits) the appendix (intestines), as well as clusters of lymphoid tissue in the gastrointestinal tract

Question 5

what is the significance of the thymus?

Answer 5

responsible for maturation of T lymphocytes, which are responsible for cell-mediated immunity

Question 6

what are the 2 main subcategories of the immune system?

Answer 6

innate and adaptive immunity

Question 7

how does specific immunity differ from nonspecific immunity?

Answer 7

specific immunity responds to particular antigens in particular ways, whereas nonspecific immunity responds to all antigens and attacks them in the same way

Question 8

how does adaptive immunity work?

Answer 8

it targets specific organisms, but it is slower to respond to an invading organism, it is not present at birth but develops and adapts as the animal matures and is exposed to a variety of antigens

Question 9

what is the difference between the first and second lines of defense against invading pathogens?

Answer 9

the first line of defense is composed of external barriers (skin, mucous membranes, secretions); the second line of defense is internal and activated only when the first line of defense fails

Question 10

the body’s innate defense against viral pathogens is driven by the production of what?

Answer 10

interferons

Question 11

what are the pros and cons of fever?

Answer 11

benefits of fever include increased rate of phagocytosis, slowed bacterial growth, and potential killing of the pathogen; risks include denaturing of the proteins and injury to bodily tissues and cells

Question 12

what cell type of innate defense targets tumor cells?

Answer 12

natural killer cells

Question 13

what types of cell are phagocytic?

Answer 13

neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, tissue macrophages; all white blood cells except lymphocytes and basophils are capable of phagocytosis

Question 14

what are the four cardinal signs of inflammation?

Answer 14

redness, swelling, heat, pain, loss of function

Question 15

where are b cells produced and where do they mature?

Answer 15

b cells originate in the red bone marrow; b cells mature in the red bone marrow

Question 16

where are t cells produced and where do they mature?

Answer 16

t cells originate in the red bone marrow and mature in the thymus

Question 17

which cell produces antibodies?

Answer 17

b lymphocytes that have differentiated into plasma cells

Question 18

what are the three stages of differentiation of lymphocytes?

Answer 18

1. native cells have entered the lymphatic system but have not encountered an antigen
2. cytotoxic or effector cells have been activated and are involved in eliminating a pathogen
3. memory cells are the survivors of past infections, capable of providing long-term immunity

Question 19

what are the functions of each of the five immunoglobulins?

Answer 19

IgM: acute infections
IgG: chronic infections
IgA: mucosal immunity
IgE: allergic reactions and parasitic worms
IgD: activates basophils and mast cells

Question 20

what are the three types of t lymphocytes?

Answer 20

1. helper t cells (th) secrete cytokines into the surrounding tissue to improve immune response
2. cytotoxic t cells (tc) attach to the antigenic cells and destroy them
3. regulatory t cells (ts) inhibit helper t cell and cytotoxic t cell function by negative feedback, they also prevent b cells from transforming into plasma cells

Question 21

how do vaccines protect patients from disease?

Answer 21

vaccines introduce a weakened form of a pathogen to which the animal’s body mounts an immune response in which memory cells are produced; this allows the immune system to respond more quickly and effectively should it encounter the natural form of the pathogen

Question 22

what kind of immunity do vaccines provide?

Answer 22

active immunity

Question 23

what three factors influence the ability of a pathogen to cause disease?

Answer 23

1. virulence of the pathogen and degree of pathogenicity
2. immune system strength
3. mode of infection/transmission

Question 24

what are the three types of resistance that prevent and animal from contracting a disease?

Answer 24

acquired, individual, and species resistance

Question 25

which type of resistance prevents humans from contracting canine distemper?

Answer 25

species resistance

Question 26

which hypersensitivity reaction is likely involved in a vaccine reaction?

Answer 26

type 1

Question 27

what part of the spleen has immunologic functions?

Answer 27

the white pulp which is made of lymphatic tissue

Question 28

what is the function of galt?

Answer 28

to ensure that pathogens that survive the acidic environment of the stomach can no infect the animal via the gastrointestinal tract

Question 29

what chemicals are released as a result of the inflammatory response?

Answer 29

histamine, prostaglandins, leukotriens, and cytokines

Question 30

what are the two types of cell mediated immunity?

Answer 30

active and passive immunity