Immunology Flashcards
What is an antigen
Any substance that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against it . This means that your immune system does not recognise the substance and is trying to fight it off .
What are antibodies ?
Also called immunoglobulins , a protective protein produced in response to the presence of a foreign substance called an antigen.
What are the two types of immunity ?
Natural (innate )
Acquired (adaptive )
Explain natural immunity
Is a non specific immunity present at birth.
Responses to a foreign invader are very similar from one encounter to the next .
Name some natural immunity mechanisms
Tears -enzymes
Saliva -enzymes
Skin - ph , sweat , oils
Stomach - Hydrochloric acid
What is the correct name for white blood cells
Leukocytes
Explain Adaptive immunity
Responds slowly over days
Detects foreign invaders via their specific antigen
Uses the combined effort of lymphocytes called B cells and T cells
Name the 3 types of leukocytes ( white blood cells )
Granulocytes
Monocytes
Lymphocytes
Name the three types of granulocytes
Neutrophils
Eosinophils
Basophils
Explain the role of granulocytes
They are phagocytes (like pac man ) they ingest any foreign substances.
Explain the role of neutrophils
They are phagocytes
They are increased in bacterial infections , trauma , surgery , burns , inflammation
Make PUS - pus is a soup of degraded neutrophils
Explain eosinophils
Targets antigens on objects too large to be engulfed.
Attack using cytolytic enzyme
Increases during conditions such as asthma , allergies , parasitic infections , allergies .
Explain basophils
Least common type of granulocytes
Involved in allergic reactions and involved in the release of HISTAMINE which helps to trigger inflammation
What are the two types of monocytes ?
Dendritic cells
Macrophages
Explain dendritic cells
They are able to mark out cells that are antigens (foreign bodies ) that need to be destroyed by lymphocytes
What does cyte mean
Cells
Explain macrophages
They are phagocytes cells but are larger and live much longer than neutrophils
When are monocytes increased?
In acute and chronic infections such as tuberculosis , brucellosis , Protozoa
Name the types of lymphocytes
B cells
Or T cells
What are B cell lymphocytes responsible for ?
Producing proteins called antibodies
Name the 8 cells of the innate immune system
Neutrophils Mast cells Basophils Dendritic cells Eosinophils Monocytes Macrophages Natural killer cells
What is phagocytosis
A cell eating
What cell is known as a “poly morpho nuclear leukocyte “
Neutrophils
What degraded cells make pus ?
Neutrophils
