Defense Against Infectious Diseases

Non-specific immunity

skin & mucous membranes acting as barriers. phagocytic white blood cell (macrophages)

specific immunity

production of specific antibodies

skin

a physical barrier of pathogens

sebaceous glands

secrete lactic acid and fatty acids, creating acidic conditions on the skin to prevent most pathogenic bacteria growth

lysozyme enzymes

kills bacteria by digesting the cell wall

mucous membranes

found in the nose, trachea, vagina, and urethra. Produces the enzyme lysozyme

function of clotting factors in blood clotting

convers (inactive) prothrombin to (active) thrombin

function of thrombin in blood clotting

converts soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin

function of fibrin in blood clotting

forms a mesh around woods, trapping blood cells, to form a semi-solid clot

Macrophages in non-specific immunity

engulfs pathogens (by endocytosis) and digests the pathogen using digestive enzymes from lysosomes

antigens

toxins or other foreign substance which induce an immune response in the body, producing antibodies

antibodies

produced by lymphocytes (white blood cells) in response to SPECIFIC antigens

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

AIDS

Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome

Metabolism

the chemical reactions in the body’s cells that convert food into energy

coronary thrombosis

a blood clot that forms in the blood vessel or arteries of the heart