Answer the following questions
1. Briefly describe the process of inflammation in an area that has been traumatized
Inflammation is a response of our body to tissue damage which is nonspecific and defensive. It is characterized by redness, pain, heat, and swelling. In an area that has been traumatized, inflammation has three basic stages: vasodilation and increased permeability of blood vessels, emigration of phagocyted from the blood into the interstitial fluid, and tissue repair.
The immediate changes in the blood vessels of the region of tissue injury are vasodilation of arterioles and increased permeability of capillaries. Vasodilation permits more blood to flow to the damaged area while increased permeability causes defensive proteins and clotting factors to enter the injured area from the blood. Vasodilation and increased permeability are contributed by histamine, kinins, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and complement. After an hour, phagocytes appear on the scene. Neutrophils begin to stick to the inner surface of the endothelium of blood vessels and eventually squeeze through the wall of blood vessels to reach the damaged area. Then, monocytes follow the neutrophils to the damaged area and differentiate into wandering macrophages that help the fixed macrophages in phagocytosis. Afterward, the macrophages also die and pus is formed which is a pocket of dead phagocytes and damaged tissue forms.
2. Choose one type of Immunity (Innate and Humoral) and explain how its mechanism protects our body.
Humoral immunity, or antibody-mediated immunity, is a response of the body that occurs when foreign materials or antigens are detected in the body (Dornell, 2022). In this type of immunity, B cells transform into plasma cells which synthesize and secrete antibodies (Abs) or immunoglobulins (Igs). A specific antibody can bind to and inactivate a specific antigen. In line with that, the functions of antibodies include the neutralization of infectious agents, activating the complement system, and binding foreign substances to be destroyed. Humoral immunity principally works against extracellular pathogens, which include any viruses, bacteria, or fungi that are in body fluid outside cells.
This can be divided into primary and secondary phases. In the primary phase, naive B cell receptors bind antigens and become activated. Some activated B cells produce polyreactive and low-affinity antibodies immediately which functions as a stopgap measure to limit the replication of microbes. On the other hand, other activated B cells begin a longer process of proliferation and differentiation into memory B cells. Most memory B cells have the ability to live long which allows for more efficient secondary phase res[onses to subsequent microbial infections (Romberg, n.d.).
References:
Dornell, J., PhD. (2022, October 7). Humoral vs Cell-Mediated Immunity. Immunology & Microbiology From Technology Networks. https://www.technologynetworks.com/immunology/articles/humoral-vs-cell-mediated-immunity-344829
Romberg, N. (n.d.). The adaptive humoral immune response. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/the-adaptive-humoral-immune-response#
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. H. (2020). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (16th ed.). Wiley