Immune System | Answers |
What does the immune system do? | It defens our body against germs and diesease causing organisms every day. |
What is the function of the immune system? | It keeps people healthy and prevents infections. |
What do problems with the immune system lead to? | It leads to illness and infection. |
What are the two defenses that your body uses to prevent infection? | First and Second lines of defense. |
What are pathogens? | Disease causing organisms.that your body's line of defenses protect against. |
What are the two types of First Line Defenses | External and Internal |
What are external first line defenses | The skin is a barrier that prevents many patholgens from entering your body. |
How do pathogens enter the skin? | Through broken skin and mucous membranes. |
Name mucous membranes. | Mouth, nose, eyes, other mucous membranes. |
Name the internal first lines of defense | Respiratory system, digestive system, and circulatory system. |
How does the respiratory system act as a first line of defense? | It traps pathogens with cilia and mucus and these pathogens are removed when you cough or sneeze. |
How does the digestive system act as a first line of defense? | It has several defenses against pathogens including saliva, enzymes, hydrochloric acid, and mucus. |
How does the circulator system act as a first line of defense? | It contains white blood cells and red blood cells that surround and digest foreign organisms. White blood cells defend the body against infectious disease. |
What happens if the white blood cells cannot destroy the bacteria fast enough? | You can develop a fever. |
What is the difference between first line defenses and second line defenses? | First line defenses work against harmful substances and ALL types of pathogens, 2nd line defenses are SPECIFIC and work against specific pathogens. |
What is the immune system? | The complex group of defenses (first and second). |
Compare the immune system to a castle or Lord of the Rings. | Skin, resp., dig,, circ. systems are 1st line defenses (like moat). Pathogens are bad guys. Once 1st line defenses are breached 2nd line take over with specific defenses. |
How does the condition of skin affect pathogens? | Skin's perpiration contains substances that can slow growth of some pathogens. Secretions from skin's oil glands and perspiration are acidic and can kill pathogens. |
Name the two types of immunity. | Specific immunity and active immunity. |
What is active immunity? | Your body makes its own antibodies in response to an antigen. |
What are antigens? | Molecules that are foreign to your body. |
What is passive immunity? | When antibodies that have been produced in another animal are introduced into your body. |
What is a vaccine? | A form of an antigen that gives you immunity against a disease. |
Can a vaccine cure a disease? | No a vaccine can only prevent a disease not cure it. |
What is vaccination? | It is the process of being injected with a vaccine. |
What happens after your body has been injected by a vaccine? | After your body has been injected with a vaccine, your body forms antibodies against that pathogen. |
After vaccination, what happens if your body encounters the same pathogen? | Your blood stream already has antibodies that are needed to fight and destroy it. |
What is tetanus? | A disease caused by a common soil bacteria. |
What does the tetanus bacteria do? | It produces a chemical that paralyzes muscles. |
Why do children receive the tetanus vaccine? | To stimulate antibody production to the tetanus toxin. |