Inflammation Flashcards
What is inflammation?
Complex biological reaction that occurs in vascularized tissues in response to harmful stimulus.
Recruits cells and molecules for defense from circulation to site of injury.
What are the 5 signs of inflammation?
Pain - chemicals released at nerve endings Redness - increased blood flow to site Immobility - fluid accumulation Swelling - fluid accumulation Heat - increased blood flow to site
What system controls inflammation?
Immune system
Describe the immune system.
A system of biological processes and structures to protect against disease.
What is the 2 parts of immune system called?
Innate immune system
Adaptive/acquired immune system
Describe the innate immune system (4 points).
This is the first-line of defence and responds quickly to invaders but defends in a non-specific manner.
It can physically act to confine the invader and stop spread in the body.
Response in the same on re-exposure.
What are the 4 barriers of the innate immune system?
Anatomic/physical barriers
Inflammatory barriers
Physiological barriers
Phagocytic barriers
Describe the adaptive/acquired immune system.
Second line of defense with a slower immune response. Able to retain immunological memory hence faster and more specific response upon re-exposure. This system involves high specific cells and processes.
What are the 4 features of the adaptive immune system?
Immunological memory
T cells and B cells
Antigen specific
Self/non-self recognition
Why is the type of response involved in adaptive immune system called antigen specific?
Bodies can generate antibodies to specific antigens therefore, when we are re-exposed to the antigen, we have those antibodies in our immunological memory that can help target them more quickly.
What is the role of HLA/Human Leukocyte Antigen?
To present foreign antigens to elicit T cell response.
What is the role of MHC Class 1?
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen plays an important role in alerting the immune system to virally infected cells.
Two types of inflammation. Chronic and Acute. Describe each.
Acute inflammation has a rapid onset and short duration and is the initial response of the body to harmful stimuli. Inflammation ceases when stimuli removed.
Chronic inflammation has a slow onset and prolonged duration.
Give 3 examples of what can cause acute inflammation.
Infection, trauma/injury, allergic reaction, burns, chemical irritants.
Give 3 examples of causes of chronic inflammation.
Cancer, cardiovascular disease, lupus, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disease, neurological disease.