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Ch. 16 - Concepts of Immunity

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  • What are the two main types of immunity?
    Innate immunity (non-specific, first line defense) and adaptive immunity (specific, memory response involving lymphocytes).
  • What is the primary function of innate immunity?
    Provides a non-specific defense present at birth, with no memory response, responding quickly to pathogens.
  • What cells are involved in adaptive immunity?
    Lymphocytes, specifically T cells and B cells, which provide a specific and memory-based immune response.
  • What are Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs)?
    Broad molecular patterns on microbes recognized by innate immune cells to trigger defense responses.
  • Name three physical barriers involved in innate immunity.
    Skin, mucous membranes, and the lacrimal apparatus (tear production).
  • What role does lysozyme play in immunity?
    An enzyme in tears and perspiration that breaks down bacterial cell walls, especially gram-positive bacteria.
  • How do normal microbiota contribute to innate immunity?
    They limit pathogen attachment sites, produce inhibitory substances, and help develop the immune system.
  • What are the main types of leukocytes (white blood cells)?
    Granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils) and agranulocytes (lymphocytes, monocytes).
  • What is the function of macrophages in immunity?
    Phagocytose pathogens and activate adaptive immunity by presenting antigens.
  • List the six steps of phagocytosis.
    1. Chemotaxis, 2. Recognition & attachment, 3. Ingestion, 4. Phagolysosome formation, 5. Digestion, 6. Elimination.
  • What is chemotaxis in phagocytosis?
    The movement of phagocytes toward the site of infection in response to chemical signals.
  • What happens during phagolysosome formation?
    The phagosome fuses with a lysosome to form a phagolysosome where digestion occurs.
  • What is inflammation and its main purpose?
    A local defensive response to tissue damage that destroys injurious agents, limits damage spread, and repairs tissue.
  • Name four signs of inflammation.
    Pain, redness, immobility, swelling, and heat.
  • How does fever contribute to immunity?
    Cytokines raise body temperature to inhibit microbial growth and enhance immune response.
  • What are antimicrobial substances in the second line of defense?
    Complement proteins, interferons, and iron-binding proteins that help destroy microbes.
  • What is the complement system?
    A group of over 30 liver-produced proteins that enhance immune responses by opsonization, inflammation, and cytolysis.
  • Name the three complement activation pathways.
    Classical (antibody-dependent), alternative (antibody-independent), and lectin (pattern recognition).
  • What is opsonization?
    The process where complement proteins coat pathogens to enhance phagocytosis.
  • What are the main functions of antibodies?
    Bind to specific antigens to neutralize pathogens and activate the complement system.