Activity 1
Answer the following questions:
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Briefly describe the process of inflammation in an area that has been traumatized.
Inflammation happens as a response to the trauma. It is a nonspecific, defensive response of the body to tissue damage.
There are three basic stages of inflammatory response:
The first stage is the vasodilation and increased blood vessel permeability. The arterioles increase in diameter to allow more blood to flow through the damaged area. This also helps to remove microbial toxins and dead cells. While the increase in permeability permits the defensive proteins such as the antibodies and clotting factors to enter the injured area from the blood.
The second stage is the emigration of phagocytes from the blood into interstitial fluid. During emigration, neutrophils stick to the inner surface of the endothelium of blood vessels, then they squeeze through the walls of it to reach the damaged area. The neutrophils destroy the foreign microbes through phagocytosis. When there is inflammation, the red bone marrow reacts by increasing the white blood cells (leukocytosis). After the neutrophils die, monocytes follow into the area. Monocytes transform into wandering macrophages which are large phagocytes that can engulf damaged tissue, worn-out neutrophils, and invading microbes. After a few days that macrophages die, pus is formed. Pus is a collection of dead cells and fluid.
The third stage is tissue repair.
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Choose one type of Immunity (Innate and Humoral) and explain how its mechanism protects our body.
Innate immunity is referred to as the nonspecific immunity as it reacts to all foreign substances in the same way. It is composed of the first line of defense and the second line of defense.
The first line of defense consists of external physical and chemical barriers. The skin’s epidermis serves as a physical barrier to oppose the entrance of microbes. When the epidermis is damaged, pathogens can penetrate it and invade adjacent tissues. On the other hand, mucous membranes secrete a chemical substance called mucus that traps microbes and foreign substances. This is present in the nose and upper respiratory tract. The respiratory tract contains cilia, which have goblet cells that produce mucus, that propel inhaled dust and microbes toward the throat.
When the pathogens get through the first line of defense, the second line of defense acts upon it. It consists of antimicrobial substances, natural killer cells, phagocytes, inflammation, and
fever. These all work to remove the foreign or unwanted substances in the body by processes such as phagocytosis.
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. H. (2017). Tortora’s Principles of Anatomy & Physiology. Wiley.
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. (2020). The innate and adaptive immune systems. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279396/