Immune System quiz #2 Flashcards
Immune System quiz #2
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How does herd immunity protect vulnerable populations?
Herd immunity occurs when a significant portion of a population becomes immune to a disease, reducing its spread and protecting those who are not immune, such as vulnerable individuals. What are the two main types of immunity in the immune system?
The two main types of immunity are innate immunity, which provides a rapid, nonspecific response, and adaptive immunity, which targets specific pathogens and confers long-term immunity. What is the role of phagocytosis in the immune system?
Phagocytosis involves immune cells engulfing and breaking down pathogens, aiding in antigen presentation for the adaptive immune system to recognize and respond to specific antigens. How do cytokines function in the immune response?
Cytokines are signaling molecules that recruit additional immune cells to infection sites, enhancing the immune response by attracting them to specific areas. What is antigen presentation and why is it important?
Antigen presentation involves immune cells displaying pathogen fragments to other immune cells, enabling the adaptive immune system to recognize and mount specific responses to antigens. How do antibodies function in adaptive immunity?
Antibodies are molecules produced by the immune system that specifically recognize and bind to antigens, helping to neutralize or eliminate pathogens. What is the difference between innate and adaptive immunity?
Innate immunity provides a rapid, nonspecific defense against pathogens, while adaptive immunity targets specific pathogens and confers long-term immunity through antibody production. What triggers the process of phagocytosis in immune cells?
Phagocytosis is triggered by ligand-receptor interactions on the surface of immune cells, allowing them to detect and engulf pathogens. Why is the adaptive immune system considered sophisticated?
The adaptive immune system is sophisticated because it can recognize specific pathogens and create long-term immunity through targeted antibody production. What role do white blood cells play in the immune system?
White blood cells are crucial components of the immune system, increasing in number during infections to help fight off pathogens through various immune responses. What is a pathogen and how does it relate to disease?
A pathogen is a microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus, that causes disease by invading and harming the host organism. How does innate immunity differ from adaptive immunity?
Innate immunity provides a rapid, nonspecific response to pathogens, while adaptive immunity targets specific pathogens and confers long-term immunity. What is phagocytosis and what role does it play in the immune system?
Phagocytosis is the process by which immune cells engulf and break down pathogens, helping to eliminate them from the body. What are cytokines and what is their role in the immune response?
Cytokines are signaling molecules released by immune cells to recruit additional immune cells to the site of infection, enhancing the immune response. What is an antigen?
An antigen is any molecule that induces an immune response, often a recognizable part of a pathogen. What is the function of antibodies in the immune system?
Antibodies are molecules produced by the immune system that specifically recognize and bind to antigens, helping to neutralize or eliminate pathogens. What triggers the release of cytokines during an immune response?
The presence of pathogens or infection triggers immune cells to release cytokines to recruit more immune cells to the affected area. Why is the innate immune system considered the first line of defense?
The innate immune system is the first line of defense because it responds quickly and nonspecifically to any invading pathogen. What is the significance of ligand-receptor interactions in immune cell function?
Ligand-receptor interactions allow immune cells to recognize and bind to specific molecules on pathogens, initiating processes like phagocytosis. What is the purpose of memory cells in the adaptive immune system?
Memory cells enable the adaptive immune system to respond more rapidly and effectively to pathogens it has encountered before. What is the difference between a nonspecific and a specific immune response?
A nonspecific immune response targets any pathogen in a general way, while a specific response targets particular pathogens using tailored mechanisms. How do antibodies recognize specific antigens?
Antibodies have unique binding sites that match the shape of specific antigens, allowing them to bind only to those antigens. How does the immune system respond to a new pathogen it has never encountered before?
The innate immune system responds first with a nonspecific attack, followed by the adaptive immune system developing a specific response and memory. How do immune cells use phagocytosis to eliminate pathogens?
Immune cells engulf pathogens through phagocytosis, breaking them down and removing them from the body. Why is the adaptive immune system described as 'acquired' immunity?
It is called 'acquired' because it develops specific defenses against pathogens after exposure, rather than being present from birth. What is the main advantage of having both innate and adaptive immunity?
Having both allows for a rapid initial response (innate) and a highly specific, long-lasting defense (adaptive) against pathogens. What is the role of receptors on immune cells during pathogen recognition?
Receptors on immune cells detect specific molecules (ligands) on pathogens, triggering immune responses like phagocytosis. What is the significance of the shape of an antibody's binding site?
The shape of the binding site determines which specific antigen the antibody can bind to, ensuring specificity in immune responses. What happens to pathogens after they are engulfed by phagocytic cells?
Pathogens are broken down inside the phagocytic cell, and fragments may be presented as antigens to activate adaptive immunity. What is the function of antigen-presenting cells in adaptive immunity?
Antigen-presenting cells display pathogen fragments to T cells, initiating a specific adaptive immune response. What is the role of ligands in immune cell activation?
Ligands on pathogens bind to receptors on immune cells, triggering processes like phagocytosis and immune activation. What is the main difference between the speed of innate and adaptive immune responses?
Innate responses are immediate, while adaptive responses take longer to develop but are more specific. What is the purpose of engulfing pathogens during phagocytosis?
Engulfing pathogens removes them from circulation and allows immune cells to break them down and present antigens. What is the role of T cells after recognizing an antigen?
T cells either help coordinate the immune response or directly attack infected cells after recognizing an antigen. How does the immune system adapt to new pathogens over time?
The adaptive immune system learns to recognize new antigens and produces specific antibodies and memory cells. How do immune cells know where to go during an infection?
Cytokines released at the infection site attract immune cells to the area. How does the immune system recognize and respond to antigens?
Immune cells use receptors to detect antigens and initiate a specific immune response. How do phagocytic cells contribute to antigen presentation?
Phagocytic cells break down pathogens and present their antigens on their surface to activate adaptive immunity. What is the role of immune cell receptors in pathogen detection?
Receptors allow immune cells to identify and bind to specific molecules on pathogens, triggering immune responses. What is the function of cytokines in immune cell recruitment?
Cytokines signal and attract additional immune cells to the site of infection.