Lecture 30 - Introduction to immunology and the immune system

Question 1

What are the overall components of the immune system that defend the body against disease?

Answer 1

Organs, cells, antibodies

Question 2

What is the name for a microbe that causes disease?

Answer 2

Pathogen

Question 3

What are primary lymphoid organs?

Answer 3

Organs that produce white blood cells/lymphocytes

Question 4

What are the two primary lymphoid organs?

Answer 4

Bone marrow, thymus

Question 5

What is the function of bone marrow?

Answer 5

Source of stem cells that develop into cells of the innate and adaptive immune responses.

Question 6

What is the function of the thymus?

Answer 6

Produces T cells (T lymphocytes) and ‘teach’ them what to react to and how. They learn not to react to self in order to prevent auto-immunity.

Question 7

What are secondary lymphoid organs?

Answer 7

Sites where immune responses are initiated

Question 8

What are the two secondary lymphoid organs?

Answer 8

Spleen, lymph nodes

Question 9

What is the function of the spleen?

Answer 9

Site of initiation of white blood cell immune responses to blood-borne pathogens. Filters blood to remove old cells.

Question 10

What are lymph nodes?

Answer 10

Nodes along lymphatic vessels where lymph fluid from blood and tissue is filtered. Site of initiation of immune responses.

Question 11

What is the immune system?

Answer 11

An organised system of organs, cells and molecules that interact together to defend the body against disease – eg pathogenic microorganisms and cancer

Question 12

The immune system is composed of which 3 things?

Answer 12

Organs, cells and molecules

Question 13

What are the 3 layers of defense?

Answer 13

Chemical and physical barriers
Innate “arm”
Adaptive “arm”