Answer the following questions:
1. Briefly describe the process of inflammation in an area that has been traumatized.
In response to tissue damage, a nonspecific, defensive response of the body is referred to as inflammation. Signs and symptoms of inflammation include redness, pain, heat, and swelling. Depending on the injury site and extent, it can also cause immobility, or a loss of function in that area. Due to its nonspecificity, inflammatory response may be similar to the response to other types of damages. Its three basic stages include: (1) vasodilation and increased blood vessels' permeability, (2) phagocyte emigration, and (3) tissue repair.
The inflammatory response starts with the vasodilation of arterioles and immediate permeability of capillaries, to allow more blood flow, and permit defense proteins like antibodies and clotting factors to enter the injured area. Histamine, kinins, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and complement, are some of the chemicals that contribute to this stage. Then, phagocytes and white blood cells appear on the scene, and move from the blood into interstitial fluid through chemotaxis. Here, with the blood build-up, neutrophils begin to squeeze through the wall of the blood vessel and reach the injury site, in order to attempt destroying the invading microbes through phagocytosis. Monocytes follow soon after, and transform into wandering macrophages to continue the phagocytic activity. Eventually, a pocket of dead phagocytes and damaged tissue forms, called pus. Formation of pus continues until the infection subsides, and tissue is repaired.
2. Choose one type of Immunity (Innate and Humoral) and explain how its mechanism protects our body.
Innate or also called as nonspecific immunity pertains to the body defense systems that are present since birth. Its immune responses are not specific to a particular microbe or pathogen, and acts against its various types in the same manner. Moreover, Upon the detection of invaders, or wound or trauma, the innate immune system acts as the early warning sign; prevents pathogens from entering the body; and when they do so, activates cells to attack the invader; or begin repair; and informs and modulates the adaptive immune response to follow.
This immune response involves the first line of defense, which are the physical and chemical barriers provided by the skin and mucous membranes to discourage pathogens from entering the body. These structures include the skin (epidermis), mucous membranes (coated hairs and cilia), tears from lacrimal apparatus, saliva, urine, defecation, vomiting, sebum, lysozyme, gastric juice, and vaginal secretions. Meanwhile, when pathogens penetrate through the first line of defense, the second line of defense, in the form of internal antimicrobial substances, phagocytes, natural killer cells, inflammation, and fever, kicks in. These internal defenses attack invaders and aid in tissue repair.