Immune System Quiz

Provides an immediate nonspecific immune response

    The innate immune system is a nonspecific immune response. This response will attack anything it comes in contact with. Skin is part of the innate immune system. It gives the body a physical barrier, but also has cells of the immune system throughout the layers of the skin. When you are sick, your mucus becomes thicker because the pH changes from rise in temperature. Mucus contains immunoglobulins, which are proteins that act as antibodies. Your body coughs to clear out the lungs of any pathogens. We sneeze to rid the sinus passages of bacteria and germs. Watery eyes clean the soft tissue of the eyes. We get a fever when we are sick to make the body less habitable for organisms and we go potty to rid the intestines of unwanted organisms. 

Activates T and B cells in response to an infection

Responds to a later exposure to the same infectious agent

    The lymphatic system feeds cells into the body, filters out dead cells and invades organisms like bacteria. There are two main types of lymphatic cells, T and B cells. These cells have receptors on them that recognize foreign invaders. Each receptor can only match a specific antigen/foreign invader. Because it is tricky to only be able to pick up a specific antigen, the body makes several different types of lymphocyte cells enabling it to recognize almost all invaders. 

    There are two different types of T cells: helper cells and killer cells. Helper T cells activate B cells and killer T cells. The helper T cells also need to be activated. It is activated when a macrophage (white blood cell) eats an invader and goes to a lymph node (where lymphocytes are formed) and presents information about the eaten invader. The macrophage displays an antigen fragment from the invader (called antigen presentation), and the receptor of the helper T cell recognizes the antigen. The T cell is then activated. After that, the helper T cells starts to divide and produce proteins that activate B and T cells.

    

The B cell goes around and tries to find an antigen that matches up with its receptor. Once it finds it, the B cell’s signal goes off. A Helper T cell then gives the B cell the protein it needs to become activated. Once activated, the B cell produces plasma cells and B memory cells. The plasma cell produces a protein called an antibody which responds to the antigen that matched the B cell’s receptor. Antibodies are released from plasma cells and go out and help destroy invaders.

The killer T cell attacks cells of the body that are infected by bacteria and viruses. The killer T cell’s receptor searches each cell it passes by. Once it finds an infected cell, it is immediately destroyed. 

The memory cells remember different types of intruders. Once an intruder comes into the body for the second time, B and T memory cells will remember the virus and activate the immune system faster than before. 

Distinguishes self from non self
The antigens in the immune systems have receptors that detect specific types of viruses or bacteria. Each receptor can only match a specific antigen/foreign invader. Because it is tricky to only be able to pick up a specific antigen, the body makes several different types of lymphocyte cells enabling it to recognize almost all invaders. 

http://kessingersblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/why-do-we-cough-sneeze-and-experience.html

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/skin_hair/skin_immune_system_003741.htm

http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/immunity/immune-detail.html

http://maureensie.info/healthy-body/57-mucus-and-the-immune-system.html

ACTH Hormone Podcast

Here is the podcast!

My hormone is called ACTH, also known as corticotropin. It is produced in the anterior pituitary gland, which is a major organ of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is a collection of glands that produce hormones directly into the circulatory system. ACTH is a component of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, also known as the HPA Axis. It is a set of three endocrine glands: the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland (which ACTH is apart of) and the adrenal. The HPA axis controls reactions to stress and regulates different body processes like digestion, the immune system, and emotions. ACTH is apart of a negative feedback loop. It is produced in response to stress. When someone is in a very stressful situation, impulses from organs pass to the brain and then to the hypothalamus which is apart of the HPA Axis. The hypothalamus then influences the pituitary gland to create more ACTH. ACTH then stimulates the external layer of the adrenal glands and produces cortisol. ACTH is water soluble and regulates the levels of the hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels can be an indication of Cushing’s disease which is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland. Someone with high cortisol levels has high blood pressure. People with low cortisol levels could have Addison’s disease, where the pituitary gland is unable to produce enough hormones. Low cortisol levels lead to low blood pressure. MCR is a family of receptors that regulate types of hormones. MCR is the receptor for ACTH, and regulates the entire adrenal. So, ACTH regulates the production of cortisol and is produced in response to stress.