The Immune system

Question 1

What are examples of the non-specific defense system?

Answer 1

Hair and mucus in the lungs and the nose prevent pathogens from entering
Skin: Physical barrier between the inside and outside
Hydrochloric acid kills any pathogens that enter the body.
The trachea and bronchi are lines with cilia, these are hair like structures which move the mucus to the back of the throat where it is then swallowed and sent to the stomach and killed by the acid.

Question 2

What cell takes care of pathogens?

Answer 2

White blood cells attack pathogens and kill them through a process is called Phagocytosis.

Question 3

How do white blood cells kill pathogens?

Answer 3

1) Consuming them: White blood cells detect pathogens and destroy them by phagocytosis. During phagocytosis, the white blood cell ingests the pathogen. The white blood cell then uses enzymes to destroy the pathogen. This white blood cells is called a phagocyte (engulfs the pathogen).
2) Antibody production: Antigens are chemical markers produced by pathogens - every pathogen has a different antigen, so your immune system must produce specific antibodies to match different antigens. Antibodies are protein molecules produced by white blood cells called lymphocytes - they stick to pathogens, and trigger them to be destroyed.
3) Antitoxins: Pathogens produce toxins - they are harmful substances that make us feel unwell, white blood cells produce antitoxins which bind to toxins and neutralize them.

Question 4

What are the bodies first line of diffence?

Answer 4

Saliva, skin, tears, mucus

Question 5

What are the bodies second line of diffence?

Answer 5

White blood cells, stomach acids