Innate Immune System Flashcards
Immune System
innate and adaptive immune response of white blood cells
What does the first line of defense consist of?
Physical and chemical barriers of the surface that prevent pathogens from entering deeper tissue
Where does the second line of defense occur?
in the interior of the tissue
What does the second line of defense refer to?
inflammation, which leads to phagocytosis
Who is David Vetter?
the “boy in the bubbble” and did not have an immune system
What do we need to understand about not having an immune system?
that the body not only nourishes but we must also be protected through a system of active defense
What does the system of active defense use?
a mechanism of a regulation and recognition to distinguish between self cells of foreign agents
What are the white cells of the immune system?
Phagocytes and NK cells
Phagocytes
type of cell that kills microbes by ingesting them through phagocytosis
Macrophage
one of the most important phagocytes in our body
What do macrophages engulf?
anything that looks abnormal including dust and infected cells
How are macrophages mobile?
they move through blood and tissues searching out and destroying invading microbes
What is largest organ in vertebrates?
skin
Skin forms what percent of the total weight in humans?
15%
What is skin’s primary function?
to keep the water inside and outside microbes
What is an important protecting factor?
lysozyme
What are lysozymes responsible for?
breaking down the polysaccharide walls of many kinds of bacteria
What does the breaking down of the polysaccharide walls of many kinds of bacteria do?
provides protection against infection
Why does inflammation occur?
as a consequence of infection
What does inflammation accelerate?
the death of the microbes
What is inflammation?
changes in the walls of blood vessels that allow local additional molecules to pass from the blood into the infected tissue and dilate the capillaries and increase the blood flow
Why is inflammation important?
without it the body could not heal wounds and infections
Why do we have a fever?
it is a defense mechanism of the body to treat infections
What does a fever stimulate?
phagocytosis
