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Briefly describe the process of inflammation in an area that has been traumatized.
When redness, pain, heat, and swelling outset, it is highly probable that the human body is undergoing a natural process termed ‘inflammation’ for these four are its key signs and symptoms. Accompanied by these four characteristics is an irritant to which the body responds at the point it detects and terminates a foreign substance. Internally, vasodilation or the dilation of blood vessels occurs once the host starts to release hormones such as histamine and kinins which are inflammatory mediators. During this process, more blood-containing immune system cells are transported to the traumatized area as needed in the healing process. In these instances, swelling may take place as more fluid enters the tissues.
Following vasodilation is the movement of leukocytes or white blood cells, mostly neutrophils, from the blood vessels going to the interstitial fluid and then to the site of injury. As the body’s defense cells, leukocytes fend off infection through the process of phagocytosis wherein apoptotic cells and other foreign substances are ingested. Generally, this stage is recognized as the second stage in the inflammatory response called ‘emigration’. From emigration, comes the last stage of inflammation known as the ‘tissue repair’ wherein regeneration of the tissue structure and the restoration of function transpires.
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Choose one type of Immunity (Innate and Humoral) and explain how its mechanism protects our body.
To gain an understanding of why Humoral Immunity is called ‘humoral’ is the very reason that piqued my interest and eventually learn that humoral does not refer to the sense that produces laughter. Instead, ‘humoral’ is derived from ‘bodily humor’ or simply fluids in the human body including hormones. With bodily fluids in mind, the role and importance of Humoral Immunity are greatly highlighted as it serves as the body's defense against intracellular infections which are enabled in the extracellular fluids. Moreover, intracellular pathogens utilize these extracellular fluids as a channel to travel in between cells while simultaneously acting as a host or platform where bacteria can reproduce and replicate themselves. Through the protection of Humoral Immunity, intracellular infections are intercepted as extracellular microorganisms are destroyed by antibodies produced by B cells. Meanwhile, B cells permit direct lysis of targeted cells including invasive pathogens through the production of antigen-specific immunoglobulin.
References:
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Acute inflammation. Acute Inflammation - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/acute-inflammation
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Bitesized immunology: Cells. BSI Immunology. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.immunology.org/public-information/bitesized-immunology/cells/b-cells#:~:text=B%20cells%20are%20at%20the,(typically%20known%20as%20antibodies)
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The humoral immune response - immunobiology - NCBI bookshelf. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10752/
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What is an inflammation? - informedhealth.org - NCBI bookshelf. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279298/