Overview of Host Defenses and Innate Immunities

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to host defenses and innate immunities based on the lecture notes.

Innate Defenses

Natural defenses present at birth providing nonspecific resistance to pathogens.

Adaptive Immunities

Specific immune responses that must be acquired following exposure to specific pathogens.

Phagocytosis

The process by which certain cells engulf and digest foreign particles, bacteria, and dead or dying cells.

Inflammation

A biological response to harmful stimuli, aiming to restore tissue homeostasis during the healing process.

Complement System

A group of proteins in the blood that assist immune responses by marking pathogens for destruction or directly killing them.

T lymphocytes

A type of white blood cell that plays a central role in cell-mediated immunity.

B lymphocytes

A type of white blood cell that produces antibodies as part of the humoral immune response.

Antibodies

Proteins created by B lymphocytes that bind to specific antigens to neutralize or eliminate pathogens.

Diapedesis

The process by which white blood cells move through the walls of blood vessels to reach the site of infection.

Chemotaxis

The movement of cells toward a chemical stimulus, often responding to signals from injured tissues.

Genetic Resistance

Intrinsic resistance to certain diseases based on genetic makeup.

PAMPs (Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns)

Molecules associated with groups of pathogens recognized by cells of the innate immune system.

PRRs (Pattern Recognition Receptors)

Receptors on white blood cells that recognize PAMPs to initiate an immune response.

Sebaceous Glands

Glands in the skin that secrete oils with antimicrobial properties.

Lysozyme

An enzyme that breaks down bacterial cell walls, found in bodily fluids such as tears and saliva.

Cilia

Hair-like structures that move in a coordinated manner to help clear pathogens from respiratory tracts.

MALT (Mucosal-Associated Lymphoid Tissue)

Lymphoid tissue associated with the mucosal linings of the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urogenital tracts.

Antimicrobial Peptides

Small proteins that can kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses; examples include defensins found in various bodily secretions.

Vasodilation

The expansion of blood vessels that increases blood flow to a tissue during inflammation.

Edema

Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues, often occurring during inflammation.