the immune system Flashcards
what are the two ways organisms can infect you
via the external epithelia: skin surface, wound, insect bite
mucosal surface: airway, GI tract, reproductive tract
how do we defend ourselves from infection
barriers
give examples of the body’s infection barriers
mucus lining the nose to trap infectious material
cilia lining the lungs to sweep mucus up
defensins in the intestine (host defence peptides)
what is the first response to infection
inflammation
what are the steps of inflammation
toll like receptors recognise foreign molecules
they initiate inflammation
histamine, defensins, peptides, cytokines, chemokines are released and recruit other cells for the immune response
the immune response is triggered resulting in heat, redness, swelling and pain
what are toll like receptors
patter recognition molecules
what is a node
a point in a network of diagram at which lines or pathway intersect or branch
what is lymph
a colourless fluid containing white blood cells, which bathes the tissues and drains through the lymphatic system into the blood stream
what are the components of the lymphatic system
thymus, spleen, lymph nodes
what are lymph nodes
nodular aggregates located along lymphatic system (a communication centre for immune cells so they can coordinate a response)
how does lymph enter the lymph node
through the afferent lymph vessels
what is the difference between red blood cells and white blood cells
red blood cells carry oxygen
white blood cells are immune cells
list all the types of white blood cells (9)
macrophage neutrophils lymphocytes - b and t cells basophils eosinophils mast cells monocytes dendritic cells natural killer cells
what types of white blood cells are members of the innate immune system
neutrophil mast cells eosinophils dendritic cells basophils macrophage monocytes natural killer cells
what types of white blood cells are members of the adaptive immune system
lymphocytes:
b cells
t cells
what kind of response does the innate immune system provide
the same response over and over again
what kind of response does the adaptive immune system provide
an adapted immune response specific to the infection at hand
what is complement
a cascade of proteins in serum (roughly 30 proteins in blood plasma)
what activates complement
antibodies or molecules from pathogens
which immune response does complement amplify
inflammation
what does complement do
either directly kills the pathogen or attracts immune cells
how many bacteria can neutrophils capture
on or two
which type of white blood cell is most abundant
neutrophils
neutrophils are ………. phagocytic cells
active