1. Briefly describe the process of inflammation in an area that has been traumatized.
Inflammation is a defensive bodily response to tissue damage. It may be due to pathogens, abrasions, chemical irritations, distortions or disturbances of cells, and/or extreme temperatures.
The three basic stages of inflammatory response is as follows:
- Vasodilation and enhanced permeability, in which the wounded area receives more blood flow through the dilatation of arterioles, allowing defense proteins to enter. The tissue may show signs of heat, redness, and edema at this point.
- Phagocyte emigration is the process by which various white blood cells—neutrophils, monocytes, and worn-out neutrophils—invade the diseased area, consuming invading pathogens, injured tissue, and both.
- Tissue repair, in which damage regresses and dead tissue is replaced by living cells as cell proliferation rises.
2. Choose one type of Immunity (Innate and Humoral) and explain how its mechanism protects our body.
Innate immunity is divided into two and is the immediate defense mechanism of the human body from superficial forces.. The first line of defense (physical and chemical barriers) and the second line of defense (antimicrobial substances, natural killer cells, phagocytes, and etc.)
Under the first line of defense is the skin wherein the outer layer, the epidermis acts as a formidable physical barrier from microbes. By periodic shedding of epidermal cells, microbes are expelled from the skin surface. Aside from the skin, the mucous membrane is responsible for secreting mucus to act as a natural lubricant, humectant, filterer of the body. Notable organs which contribute to the first line of defense is the lacrimal apparatus (tears), lysozyme (break down of cells walls of certain bacteria), saliva (washes microbes), flow of urine and vaginal secretion (moves microbes out of the body), sebum (protective film over the skin), and perspiration (flushes microbes from the skin).
Pathogens that breach the body's first line of defense will come up against the second line, which consists of antimicrobial substances that can boost immunity, prevent the growth of bacteria, stop the replication of viruses, and draw mast and dendritic cells. In addition, phagocytes are in charge of swallowing microorganisms, which eventually leads to their destruction. Natural killer cells participate as well, targeting bodily cells with atypical or aberrant plasma membrane protein expression. Lastly, fever and inflammation are defense mechanisms against injury and illness.
Reference(s):
- Apte, U., & Mehendale, H. M. (2005). Tissue Repair. Elsevier EBooks, 190–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/b0-12-369400-0/00950-9
- Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. H. (2017). Tortora’s Principles of Anatomy & Physiology. Wiley.