Immunology and Public Health unit 4

Question 1

What is the immune system?

Answer 1

The Immune system protects the body from disese-causing-organisms, some toxins and cancer cells

Question 2

Describe what is meant by immunity?

Answer 2

Immunity is the ability of the body to resist infection by a pathogen or to destroy the organism if it infects the body.

Question 3

What are the two types of immunity?

Answer 3

Non-Specific and Specific

Question 4

What does non specific immunity work against?

Answer 4

Any kind of disease causing agent

Question 5

What is the skin made of and why?

Answer 5

layers of epithelial cells that form a protective barrier against bacteria and viruses

Question 6

What do cells in mucous membranes do?

Answer 6

Secrete mucus to trap microorganisms

Question 7

Secretions in tears and saliva contain the enzyme lysozyme, what does it do?

Answer 7

digests the cell walls of bacteria and destroys them

Question 8

When does the inflammatory response occur?

Answer 8

When the body suffers a physical injury such as a cut and invasion by an microorganism

Question 9

What do mast cells produce?

Answer 9

Histamine

Question 10

What does histamine cause?

Answer 10

Blood vessels to vasodilate and capillaries to become more permeable

Question 11

Histamine is released by what and when?

Answer 11

When mast cells become activated

Question 12

Additional supplies of blood does what to the injured area?

Answer 12

Makes the injured area red and inflamed as stretched capillary walls become more permeable and leak fluid into neighbouring tissue

Question 13

What are cytokines?

Answer 13

Cytokines are cell-signalling protein molecules secreted by many types of cells, including white blood cells at the site of infection

Question 14

What are the benefits of the inflammatory response?

Answer 14

Enhanced migration of phagocytes to damaged tissue, attracted by cytokines
Speedy delivery of antimicrobial proteins to the infected site
Rapid delivery of blood clotting chemicals