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Global Challenges

Non-specific defences and the immune system

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 8 (Biology)

Overview

Non-specific defences including the skin, nose hairs and mucus, cilia in the airways, stomach acid, tears and scabs, why burns lead to infection, what antigens are, how lymphocytes make antibodies that clump pathogens for phagocytes, why a first infection takes days to recover from, memory cells and immunity, and why one strain of a virus may not protect against another.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is meant by a non-specific defence?

Key term

How does the nose help to keep pathogens out of the lungs?

Key term

Describe how trapped pathogens are removed from the trachea and bronchi.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is meant by a non-specific defence?

    Model answer

    One that acts against all pathogens in the same way, rather than being directed at one particular type.

  2. 2

    Give two ways the skin defends the body against pathogens.

    Model answer

    Its outer layer of dead cells is a physical barrier, and it produces oils and secretions that kill microorganisms.

  3. 3

    How does the nose help to keep pathogens out of the lungs?

    Model answer

    Hairs and sticky mucus trap pathogens and dust in the air breathed in before it reaches the lungs.

  4. 4

    Describe how trapped pathogens are removed from the trachea and bronchi.

    Model answer

    Mucus made by goblet cells traps them, and cilia beat to sweep the mucus up to the back of the throat where it is swallowed.

  5. 5

    How does the stomach defend the body against swallowed pathogens?

    Model answer

    It produces hydrochloric acid, which kills most pathogens taken in with food, drink and swallowed mucus.

  6. 6

    How do tears protect the eyes from infection?

    Model answer

    They wash particles off the surface and contain an enzyme that destroys the cell walls of bacteria.

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