Topic 12: Immune System - Types of Immunity - Innate (non-specific) Flashcards
1
Q
What is non-specific (innate) immunity?
A
- prevents entry of microbes into body or remove foreign material
2
Q
What are the three barriers in non-specific immunity?
A
- physical
- mechanical
- chemical
3
Q
What are examples of physical barriers?
A
- skin
- mucous membrane
4
Q
What are examples of mechanical barriers? (5)
A
- flow of tears
- sweat
- mucous
- cilia beating
- coughing
5
Q
What are examples of chemical barriers? (3)
A
- gastric acid and lyzozyme (in saliva and tears)
- Interferons
6
Q
What are interferons (2)
A
- produced by virus infected cells
- trigger mechanisms in nearby uninfected cells that prevent infection
7
Q
Aside from barriers, what else are the components to innate immunity? (5)
A
- normal flora
- phagocytes
- inflammation
- fever
- natural killer cells
8
Q
What does normal flora do?
A
outcompete newcomers
9
Q
What phagocytes are included in innate immunity?
A
- macrophages and neutrophils
10
Q
What is imflammation? (2)
A
- local tissue damage, causing release of chemicals
ex. histamine from mast cells (found in CT; similar to basophils)
11
Q
What is the result of inflammation? (3)
A
vasodilation, causing:
- swelling, heat, redness, pain and therefore loss of function
- attracts neutrophils (within 1 hour) and then macrophages
12
Q
What occurs in fever? (2)
A
- immune cell and microbe chemicals trigger release of prostaglandins in hypothalamus
- thus increasing temp
13
Q
What medications decrease fever? why?
A
- aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen
- decreases prostaglandin synthesis and therefore decreases fever
