Understanding the Immune System

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the immune system?

To detect and eliminate pathogens from the body (correct)

To repair damaged tissues

To store nutrients and waste

To produce hormones and enzymes

What type of proteins can do damage to the body?

Enzymes

Transport proteins

Structural proteins

Shady proteins (correct)

What is the term for all the types of things that can cause disease if they enter the body?

Antigens

Vaccines

Pathogens (correct)

Toxins

What is the first line of defense against pathogens?

The skin and mucous membranes Signup and view all the answers

What makes it difficult for some bacteria to thrive on the skin?

The skin's natural oils being acidic Signup and view all the answers

Why is the stomach acid considered an external environment?

Because it is part of the outside of the body, similar to the skin Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of mucus membranes?

To trap and eliminate pathogens Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the immune system's response to infection?

To eliminate pathogens from the body Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the non-specific immune system?

To respond to any foreign substances or pathogens in general Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the cells that can eat up pathogens?

Phagocytes Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the inflammatory response?

To bring blood and cells that can fight infection to the site of injury Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the response of the immune system to a specific type of virus or bacteria?

Specific immunity Signup and view all the answers

What do phagocytes have on their surface that allows them to recognize pathogens?

Receptors Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the inflammatory response?

The site of injury becomes inflamed with fluid and cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the second line of defense?

To respond to pathogens that have entered the body Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the ability of the immune system to remember and respond to specific pathogens?

Specific immunity Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of phagocytosis in the immune response?

To engulf and digest foreign particles and bacteria Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the cells that can respond to specific types of viruses and bacteria?

Lymphocytes Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of phagocytes in the immune system?

To engulf and kill foreign substances Signup and view all the answers

What is an antigen?

A protein or peptide chain that triggers an immune response Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of neutrophils?

To engulf and kill foreign substances quickly Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between macrophages and neutrophils?

Macrophages are more versatile Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of dendritic cells?

To activate the specific immune system Signup and view all the answers

Why are dendritic cells called dendritic cells?

Because they look like neurons Signup and view all the answers

What do phagocytes present on their surface after engulfing and killing a pathogen?

An antigen Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which phagocytes engulf and kill foreign substances?

Phagocytosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the non-specific and specific immune system?

The non-specific immune system lacks memory Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of antigen-presenting cells in the immune system?

To present antigens to other immune cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of engulfing foreign particles or molecules by a cell?

Phagocytosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of lysozymes in phagocytosis?

To digest the engulfed pathogen Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the vesicle that contains the engulfed pathogen?

Phagosome Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the phagosome merging with a lysosome?

The pathogen is digested and broken down Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the complex formed by the MHC II protein and the peptide chain?

MHC-peptide complex Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the MHC II protein in phagocytosis?

To present the antigen to other cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for short chains of amino acids?

Peptide chains Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of phagocytosis in the immune system?

To engulf and digest foreign particles or molecules Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of phagocytosis on the engulfed pathogen?

It is digested and broken down into constituent parts Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the phagocyte presenting the peptide chain on its surface?

To communicate with other cells of the immune system Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Immune System

The immune system's primary function is to keep pathogens out of the body or eliminate them if they enter
Pathogens include proteins, viruses, bacteria, eukaryotic parasites, fungi, and other foreign substances that can cause disease

First Line of Defense

The first line of defense is to keep pathogens out of the body
It includes physical barriers such as:
- Skin, which prevents pathogens from entering the body
- Mucus membranes, which contain chemicals that make it difficult for bacteria to survive
- Acidic environments like stomach acid, which is hard for pathogens to survive in

Second Line of Defense

The second line of defense is to eliminate pathogens that have entered the body
It involves non-specific immunity, which responds to general characteristics of pathogens rather than specific types
Non-specific immunity includes:
- Inflammatory response, which brings blood and immune cells to the site of infection
- Phagocytosis, which involves cells called phagocytes that can engulf and eliminate pathogens

Phagocytosis

Phagocytosis is the process by which phagocytes engulf and eliminate pathogens
Phagocytes have receptors that respond to general characteristics of pathogens
When a phagocyte encounters a pathogen, it engulfs it and breaks it down into smaller components
The phagocyte then presents these components, called antigens, on its surface, which can trigger a specific immune response

Phagocytes

Phagocytes are cells that can engulf and eliminate pathogens
Types of phagocytes include:
- Neutrophils, which are fast and abundant responders to infection
- Macrophages, which are versatile and do the heavy lifting of phagocytosis
- Dendritic cells, which are effective at activating the specific immune system

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Description

Learn about the role of the immune system in protecting the body from pathogens, including proteins, viruses, bacteria, and fungi that can cause disease.