ACTIVITY 1. Briefly describe the process of inflammation in an area that has been traumatized. Choose one type of Immunity (Innate and Humoral) and explain how its mechanism protects our body.
Inflammation is a protective reaction of the body in response to tissue damage caused by various factors. The primary goal of this response is to eliminate microbes, toxins, or foreign substances at the injury site, preventing their dissemination to other tissues. This critical defense mechanism works to eliminate harmful stimuli, such as pathogens or damaged cells, and initiates the healing process. The process of inflammation involves three basic stages:
- Vasodilation and increased permeability of blood vessels. Blood vessels undergo vasodilation and heightened permeability, facilitating increased blood flow to the affected area.
- Emigration of phagocytes from the blood into the interstitial fluid. Phagocytes embark on a migration journey from the bloodstream into the interstitial fluid, aiming to combat potential threats.
- Tissue repair. Restoring the affected region to its normal state.
Immunity, the capacity to withstand harm from foreign substances, is classified into two categories: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity serves as the body’s initial defense against pathogens. In response to tissue trauma, innate immunity activates the inflammatory response as a nonspecific defense mechanism. The process of innate immunity encompasses the following stages:
- Identifying targets, such as pathogens and abnormal tissues and cells;
- Orchestrating humoral and cell effectors to neutralize and eliminate the identified targets.
References
Aristizábal, B. (2013, July 18). Innate immune system. Autoimmunity - NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459455/
Tortora, G., & Derrickson B. (2017). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (15th ed.). Wiley.
VanPutte, C. L., & Seeley, R. R. (2014). Seeley's anatomy & physiology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.