Preventing and treating diseases

• What non-specific systems does the body use to prevent pathogens getting into it?

  Skin, Cilia and Mucus in the nose, Trachea, and Bronchi, Stomach Acid
• What three functions do white blood cells have?

  Phagocytosis, Producing Antibodies, Producing Antitoxins
• What happens during Phagocytosis?

  Phagocyte is attracted to the area of infection, engulfs a pathogen, and releases enzymes to digest the pathogen
• What are antigens?

  Protiens on the surface of a pathogen
• Why are antibodies a specific defence?

  Antibodies have to be the right shape for a pathogens unique antigens, so they target a specific pathogen
• What is the function of an Antitoxin?

  Neutralise toxins produced by pathogens by binding to them
• What does a vaccine contain?

  Small quantities of a dead or inactive form of a pathogen
• How does vaccination protect against a specific pathogen?

  Vaccination stimulates the body to produce antibodies against a specific pathogen - if the same pathogen renters the body, white blood cells rapidly produce the correct antibodies
• What is herd immunity?

  When most of a population is vaccinated against a disease, meaning it is less likely to spread
• What is an antibiotic?

  Drugs that kill bacteria but not viruses
• What do painkillers do?

  Treat some symptoms of diseases and relieve pain
• What properties of new drugs are clinical trials designed to test?

  Toxicity, Efficacy and Optimum Dose
• What happens in the pre-clinical stage of a drug trial?

  Drug is tested on cells, Tissues and live animals
• What is a placebo?

  Medicine with no effect that is given to patients instead of the real drug in a trial
• What is a double-blind trail?

  A trial where neither patients nor doctors know who receives the real drug and who receives the placebo