The Immune System Flashcards
What does the immune system do?
Distinguishes the host from everything foreign to protect against infection
What is the innate immune system?
Rapid response, targets a broad range of pathogens.
What is the adaptive immune system?
Slow response that acts on specific pathogens and develops memory
What are the physical barriers to foreign bodies in the respiratory tract?
Mucus and ciliated epithelium
What are the physical barriers to foreign bodies in the eyes?
Tears, lysozyme/lactoferrin
What are the physical barriers to foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract?
The acidity of the stomach, intestinal pH, normal flora, lysozyme, vomiting and defecation
How is the skin a physical barrier to foreign bodies?
Sweat, sebum, antimicrobials, low pH, commensal bacteria and shedding
How is the genitourinary tract a physical barrier to foreign bodies?
Washing by urine, vaginal secretions, urine acidity and lysozyme
Name the immune tissues
Appendix, bone marrow, tonsils and adenoids, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, payers patches, lymphatics and the blood
Name a few inflammatory mediators
Histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, cytokines and chemokines
What do natural killer cells do? Give an example of a natural killer cell.
Are able to recognise and kill infected cells for example white blood cells
What are the five cardinal signs of inflammation?
Redness, heat, swelling, pain and loss of function
What can widespread systemic inflammation lead to?
Septic shock and death
What are the cells of adaptive immune responses called?
Lymphocytes
What are the two main types of lymphocytes?
B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells)
