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The Immune System: Introduction - Coggle Diagram
The Immune System: Introduction
Overview
The immune system consists of
cellular
and
chemical
components as part of the
innate
(non-specific) and
acquired/adaptive
immune system (specific)
The immune system governs how the body
defends itself against foreign agents
, such as visas, bacteria and fungi.
A fundamental principle of immunity is being able to recognise
'self'
vs.
'non-self
.
Innate Immunity: Physical Barriers
Physical barriers of a branch of the innate immune system that 'physically' prevent a foreign substance from reaching the site of infection.
Microbes can be:
Trapped
by skin cells or mucus.
Killed
by antibodies in tears, saliva, or mucus
Removed
from the body by coughing or flushing bodily fluids (urine/tears).
Innate Immunity: Blood-borne
Macrophages
A type of phagocyte located in
tissues
- circulates as a monocyte in the cell.
Consumes microbes and dead cells within tissues -
phagocytosis.
Neutrophils
The most abundant immune celll in the body, with
rapid
and
potent
anti-microbial actions.
Neutrophils exit the blood to enter tissues during an infections, fix and engulf microbes
(phagocytosis)
and kill via the rise of toxic molecules
(respiratory burst)
.
Natural Killer Cells
Found in the
blood
Destroy
virus-infected
cells and
cancerous
cells.
Produce proteins, such as
cytokines
and perofin to kill infected/transformed cells.