Inflammation, Infection & Immunity Flashcards
What are the three lines of defence in the body’s defence mechanisms?
1st line: Skin and mucous membranes
2nd line: Inflammation
3rd line: Immunity
Define infection.
An extension of inflammatory and immune processes.
What is the role of CD8 T Cells in cell mediated immunity?
Release perforin (MAC) and lymphotoxin (DNA) for autolysis and apoptosis.
What is the function of CD4 T Cells?
Manages and coordinates the immune response, activates CD8 cells and B cells.
What do B Cells mature into?
Plasma cells in the bone marrow.
What do plasma cells produce?
Immunoglobulin that interacts with specific antigens.
List the antibody actions.
- Agglutination
- Precipitation
- Neutralisation
- Lysis
- Opsonisation
- Activation of complement cascade
What is a pathogen?
A disease producing micro-organism.
What is resident flora?
Microorganisms that live on or within the body in non-sterile areas without causing harm.
What are the clinical manifestations of acute infection?
- Pain
- Heat
- Redness
- Swelling
- Lymphadenopathy
- Loss of function
- Purulent exudate
- Fever
- Malaise
- Weakness
- Anorexia
- Headache
- Nausea
What laboratory tests are used to diagnose infection?
- White blood cell count
- Serum antibody levels
- Cultures
- Sensitivities
True or False: Both cell mediated and humoral immunity processes produce memory cells.
True
What are the two types of immunity mentioned?
- Cell mediated immunity
- Humoral immunity
What is the inflammatory response classified as?
2nd line of defence.
Fill in the blank: The immune response is the _______ line of defence.
[3rd]
What do Helper T cells do?
Increase the production of T and B cells, activate CD8 cells, and mature B cells into plasma cells.
What are the three lines of defence in the body’s defence mechanisms?
- 1st line = Skin and Mucous Membranes
- 2nd line = Inflammation
- 3rd line = Immunity
The first line is a physical barrier, the second involves non-specific responses, while the third is a specific immune response.
What is inflammation?
The body’s non-specific protective response to tissue damage, disease or injury in an attempt to destroy, dilute or wall off both the injurious agent and the injured tissue.
Inflammation is essential for healing and protecting the body.
What are the 5 cardinal signs of inflammation?
- Redness (rubor)
- Swelling (tumor)
- Warmth (calor)
- Pain (dolor)
- Loss of function (function laesa)
These signs are indicative of the inflammatory response.
What is the purpose of inflammation?
- Prevent minor infections from becoming overwhelming
- Prepare any damaged tissue for repair
Inflammation is crucial for initiating healing processes.
Name factors that can cause inflammation.
- Injury/Trauma
- Infection (Viruses, bacteria, Rickettsiae, fungi, protozoa, worms)
- Infarction (e.g., Myocardial Infarct leading to ischaemia)
- Immune reactions (foreign protein hypersensitivity, autoimmunity)
- Nutrient deprivation
These factors trigger the inflammatory response.
What does the suffix ‘-itis’ indicate?
Inflammation
Examples include conjunctivitis, tendonitis, and appendicitis.
What are the steps in the mechanism of inflammation?
- Vascular response
- Cellular response
- Phagocytosis
- Lymphatic drainage
These steps are part of the inflammatory process that helps manage tissue damage.
What occurs during the vascular response in inflammation?
- Transient vasoconstriction
- Prolonged vasodilation
- Increased blood flow
- Opening of capillary beds
- Increased vascular permeability
- Oedema formation
These changes facilitate the delivery of immune cells to the site of injury.
What is chemotaxis?
The process by which neutrophils and other leucocytes are attracted to the site of injury in response to chemical mediators.
This is crucial for the effective recruitment of immune cells.
How is phagocytosis defined?
The process of ingestion of foreign material or particulate matter.
Phagocytosis helps eliminate pathogens and debris from the site of injury.
What are the manifestations of acute inflammation?
- Rubor (Redness)
- Calor (Heat)
- Dolor (Pain)
- Tumor (Oedema)
- Functio laesa (Loss of function)
These manifestations reflect the underlying physiological changes during acute inflammation.
What is the reference value for white blood cell count (WBC) in adults?
5,000 – 10,000 /mm³
An elevated WBC count often indicates inflammation.
What is the difference between acute and chronic inflammation?
- Acute Inflammation: Rapid onset, usually known cause, full resolution
- Chronic Inflammation: Slow onset, often unknown cause, fails to resolve
Understanding this difference is critical in medical diagnosis and treatment.
List some common types of medication used for inflammation.
- Aspirin
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Ibuprofen
- Diclofenac sodium (Voltarol)
- Naproxen
- Corticosteroids
- Immunosuppressants (e.g., Methotrexate)
These medications help reduce inflammation and manage symptoms.
