The Human Immune System Flashcards
1st Line of Defense
Nonspecific Defense
Barrier that helps prevent pathogens from entering the body
2nd Line of Defense
Nonspecific Defense
Limit spread of invaders before specific immune responses
3 types
Inflammatory Response
2nd Line of Defense
Swelling, redness, soreness, increased warmth in area
Phagocytes
2nd Line of Defense
Gobble up invading microbes
Macrophages (wbc) engulf microbes with pseudopods
Interferons
2nd Line of Defense
Chemicals released by immune system to block against viral infections
3rd Line of Defense
Specific Defense
Consists of lymphocytes that originate in the bone marrow
B Lymphocytes
Produce antibodies against specific antigen
Humoral Response
T Lymphocytes
Fight pathogens by hand-to-hand combat
Cell-mediated response
Antigens
Anything that triggers an antibody response
Antibody
Immunoglobins
Each antibody can bind to only 1 antigen forming antigen-antibody complex that can be gobbled up by a phagocyte
Clonal Selection
Fundamental mechanism in development of immunity
Selected lymphocyte proliferates (clones 1000s of copies) & differentiates into plasma & memory cells
Plasma Cells
Fight antigens immediately
Do no live long
Memory Cells
Fight same antigens as plasma cells but remain circulating in blood in small amounts for a lifetime
Immunological Memory
Capacity of immune system to generate a secondary response
Vattenkoppor
Passive Immunity
Temporary
Antibodies = borrowed, do not survive for long
Active Immunity
Permanent
You make antibodies yourself after being ill & recovering, or after given immunization/vaccine
Cross-Match
Before blood transfusion, recipient’s & donor’s blood is mixed to ensure compatibility
Allergies
Hypersensitive immune responses to certain substances
Involve release of histamines, taking antihistamines to counteract symptoms
Histamines
Triggers vasodilation which increase blood supply to area, bringing more phagocytes to gobble up germs
Antibiotics
CURE
Medicines that kill bacteria/fungi
Administered after person is sick & cure the disease
Vaccines
PREVENT
Prevent viral infections as there is no cure
New treatments & vaccines are always developed
Autoimmune Diseases
Caused by mistake of immune system
System can’t distinguish between self & nonself, instead it perceives certain structures in body as foreign & produce antibodies to attack
Pathogens
Organisms that cause disease
Nonspecific Defense
Attack anything foreign
Specific Defense
Identify certain invading cells & attack them specifically
Vasodilation
Enlargement of blood vessels
Universal Donor
Blood type O
Has no blood cell antigens to be clumped by the recipient’s blood
Universal Recipient
Blood type AB
No antibodies to clump the donor’s blood
Primary Immune Response
When an antigen comes in contact to the immune system for the first time
Plasma Cells
Secondary Immune Response
Second time a person is exposed to the same antigen as in PIR (primary immune response)
At this point immunological memory has been established
Memory Cells
