ImmunologyLesson 1 of 1 in the course The Lymphatic and Immune System

Innate Immune Barriers, Recognition, Effector Cells, and Inflammation

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 4 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

The body’s first protection against infection is a set of barriers that prevent pathogens from entering, remove them, or destroy them before they establish themselves in tissues. These defenses work continuously, rather than waiting for an infection to begin.

The skin is the primary barrier against microorganisms entering the body. Its outer epidermal cells are dead and keratinized, creating a dry surface where many bacteria cannot grow well. These cells are continually shed, carrying attached microbes away.

All flashcards

How do Langerhans cells contribute to skin defense?
They are epidermal immune cells that recognize and respond to foreign material.
What are Kupffer cells?
Macrophages located in the liver.
How does opsonization support phagocytosis?
It tags pathogens with antibodies or antimicrobial proteins that help phagocytes recognize and engulf them.
What does the complement membrane-attack complex do?
Proteins C5–C9 form pores in pathogen membranes, disrupting osmotic balance and potentially killing the pathogen.
How do prostaglandins contribute to inflammation?
They promote vasodilation and contribute significantly to inflammatory pain.

Quiz questions

  1. What role do neutrophils play during inflammation?Answer: They leave the bloodstream quickly and kill microbes at inflamed sites.
  2. How do perforins and granzymes help natural killer cells induce apoptosis?Answer: Perforins form pores that let granzymes enter and trigger cell death.
  3. What do interferons released by virus-infected cells do?Answer: They prompt nearby cells to produce proteins that help resist viral infection.
  4. Which statement correctly distinguishes the two complement pathways?Answer: The alternate pathway can start without antibodies; the classical pathway requires them bound to antigen.
  5. What effect does histamine have on local blood vessels during inflammation?Answer: It widens vessels and increases capillary permeability.

Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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