specific defense system

• specific defense system:

  • acts to destroy any pathogens which pass through the non specific immune system to the body
  • large part is made up of wbcs
• phagocytes:

  • perform phagocytosis - engulf and consume pathogens
  • this destroys the pathogens - they can no longer make you feel ill
• antibody producing lymphocytes:

  • each pathogen has an antigen
  • the antibody is made complimentary to the antigen
  • pathogens clump together - makes it easier to carry out phagocytosis
  • if you are infected again - memory cells produce antibodies at a faster rate - immune
• antitoxin producing lymphocytes:

  • neutralize toxins released by the pathogens
  • bind to the toxins