Biology-Fighting disease

• The skin acts as a barrier to pathogens and also secretes antimicrobial substances which kill pathogens.
• Hairs and mucus in your nose trap particles that could contain pathogens
• The trachea and bronchi secrete mucus to trap pathogens
• Tranchea and bronchi are lined with cilia. these hair-like structures, which waft the mucus up to the back of the throat where it can be swallowed
• The stomach produces hydrochloric acid this kills pathogens that make it that far from the mouth
• if pathogens make it into your body your body reacts to it and destroys them
• the most important part of your immune system is the white blood cells
• white blood cells engulf foreign cells and digest them this is called phagocytosis
• Every invading pathogens has unique molecules (called antigens) on its surface
• when white blood cells come across a foreign antigen they will produce proteins called antibodies to lock onto invading cells so that they can be found or destroyed by other white blood cells
• antibodies are produced rapidly and carried around the body to find similar bacteria or viruses
• if the same person is infected with the same pathogen the the white blood cells will rapidly produce the antibodies to kill it- then the person is then naturally immune to that pathogen and won't get ill