1. Briefly describe the process of inflammation in an area that has been traumatized.
Inflammation is a nonspecific, defensive response of the body to tissue damage caused by bacteria, pathogens, etc. It eliminates the initial cause of cell injury, removes the damaged tissue and generates new tissue. The process of inflammation depends on the nature of the stimuli and its location in the body. However, they all share the same mechanism. During inflammation response, chemicals such as histamine, bradykinin, and prostaglandins are released by the damaged cells. These chemicals lead to blood vessels leaking fluid into the tissues, which causes swelling. By doing so, the foreign substance is kept away from the body tissues. The chemicals also draw phagocytes, white blood cells that "eat" germs and dead or damaged cells. This process is called phagocytosis. Phagocytes eventually die. Pus is formed from a collection of dead tissue, dead bacteria, and live and dead phagocytes.
2. Choose one type of Immunity (Innate and Humoral) and explain how its mechanism protects our body.
Defenses that are present at birth are referred to as innate immunity. It does not involve specific recognition of a microbe and acts against all microbes in the same way. Innate immune responses represent immunity’s early warning system and are designed to prevent microbes from entering the body and to help eliminate those that do gain access. Our skin, mucous, hair, and other epithelial surfaces, including those in the gut, serve as physical barriers that the innate immune system uses as its first line of defense. Coughing and sneezing are helpful reactions to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria. However, if an antigen gets past these barriers, it is attacked and destroyed by other parts of the immune system (second line defense).