Study Guide Immune System
To-Do Date: Mar 8 at 9:30amIn this cartoon, the White Blood Cells are planning to attack a pathogen. Can you tell what type of pathogen? Which WBC is most likely to be ''pointing'' out the enemy? Which type of WBC is most likely to be in the ''audience''? How does that cartoon relate to the one below it ? ( Might want to see the original Michelangelo painting here Links to an external site. )
Overview for Week 8-9 : The Immune System
All organisms need a way to protect themselves from pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites,, as well as from toxic substances. Humans, like other mammals, have an immune system that has evolved to protect us in several different ways.
In this module, we will learn the basics ( and I do mean basics) of the human immune system in order to understand how we fight off viral infections. The immune system can be a bit overwhelming since there is a lot of new vocabulary and many different parts of the system.
Study Guide: Week 8 The Immune System.
1. What are the different cells and organs involved in immune defense?
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- What is the basic function of the following types of White Blood Cells: Phagocytic Cells, T Cells ( Helper and Cytotoxic), B Cells, ( this should include important molecules that they make such as antibodies) and memory cells.
- Where are WBCs made? Where do they mature?
- What is the role of the circulatory system (blood and lymph), the skin in immune defense?
- What are important pathogens and what is an antigen?
2. Immunology is filled with jargon and vocabulary. Here is a list of what I think is important and you should know:
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3. What are the intrinsic and general ( non-specific) mechanisms that protect us from pathogens and toxins? This is referring to mechanisms that we are born with and are always ''ON''. How does our skin, mucus, ear wax, sweat, tears and microbiome protect us from dangers? What are the advantages and disadvantages of non-specific immunity?
4. What is inflammation and what are its benefits? What are capillaries and what does it mean when they ''leak''? What causes capillaries to become leaky? What leaks out of the capillaries? What type of WBC's are involved in inflammation? What is the role of histamines? What are the signs of inflammation and when are these a good thing? What is the role of phagocytic WBC's? How does this process connect with specific immunity?
5. Explain how adaptive (specific) immunity works to protect us against pathogens. You will need to include information about pathogens, antigens, phagocytosis, antigen presenting cells, Helper T-cells, B-cells, Cytotoxic T-cells, memory cells. What are the advantages and disadvantages to adaptive immunity?
Assessment Problem Set Questions *
Remember that the COVID Assessment will be in the form of problems, short answers and paragraph essay questions. The questions below will be on the Unit Assessment. The entire Unit Assessment will be due at the end of week 14, but you will be able to work on it as you go along.
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- This will be open book, open notes AND you may work on it with anyone you would like - myself, fellow student, tutor, etc
- BUT, your answers MUST be in your own words.
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Assessment Questions from Week 8
Every year there are cold viruses that pass from one student to the next. The first time you are exposed to the virus, you get sick and it takes approximately 7-10 days to get better.
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C5. Describe the process by which your immune system fights off the cold virus during this first infection. You will need to include information about pathogens, antigens, phagocytosis, antigen presenting cells, Helper T-cells, B-cells, Cytotoxic T-cells
C6. You pass the cold on to your younger siblings who get sick with the cold. Why don't you catch the cold back from them? What is protecting you? You will need to build off of your explanation above and discuss memory cells.
Here are two recordings from this class meeting:
Explanation of the different cell types