Topic 5 - White Blood Cells

Question 1

what are pathogens?

Answer 1

microorganisms that cause disease

Question 2

what are the two types of white blood cells?

Answer 2

phagocytes and lymphocytes

Question 3

what do phagocytes do?

Answer 3

detect things that are foreign to the body (e.g. pathogens). they engulf them and digest them. they are non-specific

Question 4

what do lymphocytes do?

Answer 4

pathogens have antigens on their surfaces. lymphocytes produce antibodies when they come across a foreign antigen. antibodies lock onto the invading pathogen and mark it out for destruction. antibodies are specific and are produced rapidly to mark all similar pathogens.

Question 5

what are memory cells?

Answer 5

memory cells are also produced in response to a foreign antigen. they remain in the body to remember the specific antigen. they reproduce very quickly if the same antigen enters the body again.