Immunology Flashcards
Where is the immune system located?
It’s scattered throughout the body
What is the role of the immune system? Describe two situations where it is necessary.
Its role is to protect the entire body at all times
1. From pathogens (bacteria, virus, parasite)
2. From altered body cells (cancer)
Describe two situations in which the immune system can “turn on us”.
The body will misrecognize cells as foreign in
1. autoimmune disorders
2. If tissues are tranplanted
What are the two components of the immune system?
- non-specific/ innate system
- Specific/ Adaptive
Of the two major components of the immune system, we are born with […]
both
Name two differences between innate immunity and adaptive immunity.
Non-specific:
Does not need to recognize a pathogen
Same response every time it sees the pathogen
Specific:
Requires to recognize the pathogen
Has a faster response the second time it sees the same pathogen
Explain the origin of vaccination
Smallpox disease led to lesions, which left behind scars called “pox”. Dr. Edward Jenner noticed that no milkmaids, who had gotten cowpox, had the marks of smallpox, leading him to assume that one protected the individual from the other. He took pus from a smallpox pustule and put it other the skin of another individual to inoculate them against smallpox and it worked.
What are the two categories of lymphoid organs? Explain the difference between them.
PRIMARY lymphoid organs
- Where the stem cells divide
- Where immune cells develop
SECONDARY lymphoid organs
- Sites where most immune responses occur
Immune cells are also known as..
leukocytes
Name the two primary lymphoid organs.
Bone marrow
Thymus
What is the immune function of the bone marrow?
It produces blood cells: B-cells and immature T-cells
It’s also where B-cells mature
What is the bursa and what is it homologous to in humans?
It’s homologue to the bone marrow since it also produces the B-cells
What is the immune function of the thymus?
It contains T-cells, dendritic cells, epithelial calls and macrophages
It’s also where T-cells mature
What happens to the thymus as we age?
it atrophies and can be almost gone with old age
Name the three secondary lymphoid organs.
Lymph nodes
Spleen
Lymphoid nodules
Where are lymph nodes found?
about 600 scattered throughout the body
What is the immune function of lymph nodes?
It filters the microbes before draining the lymphatic fluid into larger blood vessels
The macrophages inside the nodes phagocytize the microbes that enter the lymph
What is the immune function of the spleen?
Remove microbes and old erythrocytes
What is the immune function of lymphoid nodules?
Provide immunity in the mucosal-associated tissues
Give 3 examples of lymphoid nodules.
Tonsils
Appendix
Peyer’s patches
What are the two major categories of leukocytes?
Originating from the lymphoid or Myeloid committed cells
Name the 3 major types of lymphocytes.
T cells
B cells
NK cells
Where do each of the 3 lymphocyte types mature?
B cells in bone marrow
T cells in tymus
NK cells i’m not sure
Name the three types of T cells.
Cytotoxic
Helper
Regulatory