Activity 1
Answer the following questions:
Briefly describe the process of inflammation in an area that has been traumatized.
The Inflammatory Response is part of our essential and innate immune response that is characterized by five cardinal signs: (1) heat, (2) redness, (3) pain, (4) swelling, and (5) loss of function, which can manifest sometimes. It is commonly caused by tissue damage or infections wherein phagocytic cells are released toward the damaged area to initiate wound repair and remove pathogens. The process of inflammation can be divided into four distinct phases:
- Mast cell granules and inflammatory cells such as histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins are released towards the injured site. These inflammatory mediators stimulate vasodilation, chemotaxis, vascular permeability, and pain.
- Vasodilation–stimulated by histamine–will increase blood flow and the diameter of local capillaries, which then promotes heat and redness of the injured site.
- Vascular Permeability and Chemotaxis–stimulated by leukotrienes–will increase the permeability of local vasculature. This causes edema or swelling due to the leaking fluids into the interstitial space.
- Phagocytes and neutrophils–stimulated by leukotrienes–are recruited toward the injured site to remove debris and pathogens. These can increase depending on the severity of the infection or injury.
Choose one type of Immunity (Innate and Humoral) and explain how its mechanism protects our body.
The innate immune response is characterized by being rapid and nonspecific in nature, as they are our body’s first line of early defense and control against pathogens, injuries, and infections. Various barrier defenses are found within the body, such as the skin and oral cavity, depending on the site where the pathogens are found. Its cells are divided into phagocytes, which engulf pathogens and prevent them from spreading across the body (a process called phagocytosis), and Natural Killer cells, which prevent apoptosis. Both are used to identify and kill foreign cells, such as bacteria, during injury or infections.