Immunology

Question 1

What is innate immunity?

Answer 1

Innate or non-specific immunity is present from birth and includes physical barriers
(e.g. intact skin and mucous membranes), chemical barriers (e.g. gastric acid,
digestive enzymes, and bacteriostatic fatty acids of the skin), phagocytic cells and the
complement system.

Question 2

What is acquired immunity?

Answer 2

Generally specific to a single organism or to a group of closely related organisms.

There are two basic mechanisms for acquiring immunity – active
and passive.