The Nature of Host Defenses

Contents

I. Critical Thinking Questions
II. Technical Terms
III. Internet Sites

I. Critical Thinking Questions

  • Compare the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd levels of defense against microorganisms
  • Discuss the role of the immnune system in certain animals
  • What is the role of lysozyme in tears and saliva?
  • What is the role of the ciliary defense of the respiratory tree?
  • Define difference between natural markers (self) vs foreign markers (non-self)
  • Which are the four main body compartments the dominate the immune function?
  • Be sure to understand the role of each one of these compartments!
  • What is the difference between RES and mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS)?
  • What is the difference between plasma and serum?
  • Does serum contain clotting proteins?
  • Is it true that "plasma can clot and serum cannot"?
  • List the main components of plasma
  • Is hemopoiesis the same as hematopoiesis?
  • What is the main role of the undifferentiated cells called stem cells?
  • What is a RBC? How does it differ from a erythrocyte?
  • What is a WBC? How does it differ from a leukocyte?
  • Are platelets the same as thrombocytes?
  • What are the two main groups of leukocytes?
  • List the three granular leukocytes
  • List the two agranular leukocytes
  • Percent of neutrophils in the blood is
  • Percent of lymphocytes in the blood
  • Percent of monocytes in the blood is
  • Role of eosinophils
  • Role of neutrophils
  • Role of basophils
  • What is an antigen and how does it elicit specific reactions?
  • What is an antibody?  How is it produced?
  • Role of thymus in T-cells
  • Role of bursa of Fabricious in B-cells
  • What is the difference between humural and cell-mediated immunities?
  • Do monocytes transform or later differentiate into macrophages?
  • Illustrate in a diagram how antibodies are derived from stem cells.\
  • Illustrate in a diagram the four end-products of T-cells
  • Explain the process of diapedesis
  • Clearly define the lymphatic system
  • Are red blood cells also found in lymph?
  • Does the spleen circulate blood or lymph?
  • Why removal of thymus in adults will not affect our immunological system?
  • How does GALT contribute in neutralizing pathogens in our body?
  • Define role of  cytokines. Are they vasoactive?
  • Explain why pyogenic bacteria produce pus
  • Name four vasoactive substances
  • Name four chemotactic factors
  • Discuss why fever is beneficial in fighting bacterial infections
  • Discuss the two main destructive chemicals in phagocytosis to eliminate microbes
  • Differences between alfa and beta antiviral interferons?
  • What is the complement (C-factor) system?
  • Name the three stages in the complement cascade
  • What is the membrane attack complex?
  • List some activators of the C-factor

II. Technical Terms

  • Immunology
  • Markers
  • Receptors
  • Specificity
  • Whole blood
  • Blood cells
  • Mononuclear leukocyte (agranulocyte)
  • Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (granulocyte)
  • Mast cells
  • B-lymphocyte (B-cell)
  • T-lymphocyte (T-cell)
  • Antibody
  • Antigen
  • Chemotaxis
  • Lymph node (glands)
  • Axillary nodes
  • Cervical nodes
  • Inguinal or groin nodes
  • Tonsils
  • Thyroid gland
  • Edema
  • Pus
  • Pyogenic bacteria
  • Antipyretic drug
  • Immunocompetence

III. Search Internet Sites 

  • Immunology
  • Complement
  • B- and T-cells
  • Phagocytosis