The immune system (AQA GCSE Biology): Flashcards
📚Flashcards
Practise the cards
13 cards from this deck
ShowHide
Practise the cards
13 cards from this deck
What is the immune system?
What is the immune system?
Body's defense network against pathogens
What are pathogens?
What are pathogens?
Harmful microorganisms that cause disease
What are the main defenders of the immune system?
What are the main defenders of the immune system?
White blood cells
What is phagocytosis?
What is phagocytosis?
White blood cells swallow & destroy pathogens (cell eating)
What are antibodies?
What are antibodies?
Special proteins that stick to specific antigens on pathogens
What is antibody specificity?
What is antibody specificity?
Each antibody only works against one specific pathogen type
What is an antigen?
What is an antigen?
Substance on pathogens that antibodies recognise
What do antitoxins do?
What do antitoxins do?
Attach to toxins and make them harmless
What are memory cells?
What are memory cells?
White blood cells that remember past infections
Primary response characteristics
Primary response characteristics
Takes longer, you usually get ill, body learns pathogen
Secondary response characteristics
Secondary response characteristics
Much faster, more antibodies, often don't get ill
Three main defences of immune system
Three main defences of immune system
Phagocytosis, antibodies, antitoxins
How do antibodies destroy pathogens?
How do antibodies destroy pathogens?
Attach to matching antigens on the pathogen