Immune System: Notes

To be updated

Main Purpose

Protecting the body against pathogens

Pathogen Examples

bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, + any parts of these organisms or toxins

What makes Parasites different?

They’re multicellular

Main Cells Involved

Leukocytes(WBC) + Lymphocytes(RBC)

Leukocytes Examples

Phagocytes, neutrocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, dendritic(skin) cells

Lymphocytes Examples

B + T Cells (killer cells)

Main Tissues Involved

Lymphoid Tissue, Primary, Secondary

Primary Tissue

bone marrow, thymus gland

Secondary Tissue

Nodes

Nonspecific Defenses

The cells don’t need to know what the pathogen is to carry these out

Specific Defenses

Defenses made to fight off a specific pathogen after its identified

Antigen

parts of a cell/their surface. cells are identified by their antigen

1st Line of Defense (Nonspecific)

Physcial Barriers

Physical Barriers Examples (nonspecific)

skin, mucus, tears, acidic skin

2nd Line of Defense (Nonspecific)

Macrophage eats pathogen and presents a marker of what it was and calls a Helper T Cell

3rd Line of Defense (Specific)

Helper T Cell reads the flag on the macrophage and calls Killer T Cells and B Cells. B Cell makes antibodies for the pathogen and Killer T kills it.

Antibodies

Cells produced by B Cells that trap pathogens they’re made for so Killer Cells can eliminate it.

Chemical Defenses Examples (nonspecific)

pH(stomach, vagina), enzymes(stomach, tears), interferons, complement system