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Biology Form 5: Chapter 1

1.5 The Role of the Circulatory System in the Body’s Defence Mechanism

1. Body needs defence mechanism to protect it against disease-causing microorganisms.


2. Paythogens – disease causing microorganisms. Example: bacteria, viruses and
parasites.

The first line of defence

1. Consists of physical and chemical barriers that prevent pathogens from entering the
body. Example: skin.
2. The outer layer of the skin is tough and provides a physical barrier that is impermeable
to bacteria and viruses.
3. The continual shedding of dead skin cells make it difficult for bacteria to grow on the
skin.
4. The skin also acts as a chemical barrier as it secretes sebum and sweat.
a) Sebum forms a protective film over the skin.
b) Sweat excreted by the skin contains lysozyme, an enzyme capable of breaking down
the cell walls of certain bacteria.
5. Mucous membrane (trachea, respiratory passageway, digestive and urogenital tracts)
secretes mucus that contains lysozyme which traps and destroys bacteria.
a) Mucous membrane of the nose has mucus-coated hairs that trap and filter
microorganisms, dust and pollutants from inhaled air.
b) Tears and saliva contains lysozyme.
6. Stomach secretes hydrochloric acid which destroys microorganisms that are presents in
foods and drinks.

The second line of defence

1. Phagocytes (white blood cells) performs phagocytosis.


2. Phagocytosis – process by which phagocyte engulf and ingest microorganisms or other
paryticles such as cellular debris.
3. Types of phagocytes:
a) Neutrophils and monocytes
– found in blood
b) Macrophages
- found in interstitial fluid
4. When an infection occurs, phagocytes migrate to the infected area.
5. Phagocytes enter the interstitial fluid by squeezing through capillary walls.
6. During the migration, the monocytes enlarge and develop into macrophages.
7. When a phagocyte encounters an invading pathogen, the phagocyte engulfs the
pathogen.
8. After the pathogen is engulfed and drawn inside the phagocyte, the enzyme lysozyme
kills the pathogen.
Biology Form 5: Chapter 1

The third line of defence

1. Immune system – specific or targeted defence.


2. Immunity – state in which the body is resistant to infection by a disease-causing
pathogen, example, chicken pox virus.
3. If you are exposed again to the particular virus, your body will recognize and destroy
that virus before it can trigger symptoms of the illness.
4. Antigens:
a) large complex molecules, normally a protein that the immune system recognizes as
foreign.
b) normally found on the outer surface of an invading microorganism.
Biology Form 5: Chapter 1

c) some are dissolved in the blood plasma or interstitial fluid. Example: snake venom and
bacterial toxin.
5. Antibodies are proteins found on the surface of lymphocytes.
6. Immune response is the interaction between antibody and antigen which results in the
antigen being eliminated from the body.
Biology Form 5: Chapter 1

7. When a person has an infection, pathogens and white blood cells collect in great
numbers in the lymph nodes which causes the lymph node to swell.
8. The lymph nodes contain macrophages (destroy bacteria, dead tissue and other foreign
substances by phagocytosis) and lymphocytes (destroy antigens and foreign substances).

The various types of immunity


1. Type of immunity:
a) Active immunity
i) Body makes its own antibodies in response to stimulation by an antigen.
ii) Naturally acquired active immunity
- When a person is exposed to a pathogen, the antigens of the pathogens stimulate an
immune response.
- The immune system will produce antibodies in response to the antigens.
- Once the person recovers from the infection, he will be immune if exposed to the
particular pathogen again.
iii) Artificially acquired active immunity
- Measles are highly contagious.
- In order to protect a person from getting this disease, the person can be immunized
against the disease.
- Immunisation is the process of inducing immunity by administering a vaccine.
- Vaccine is a preparation of weakened, dead or non-virulent forms of a pathogen.
- When the vaccine is injected into the body, it will activate the body to produce
antibodies.
- Since the pathogen is modified or weakened, an individual gets mild or no symptoms of
the disease.
- For certain diseases, booster doses of the vaccine are to be given periodically.
- The first dose usually results in the production of a low level of antibody concentration
which is not sufficient to protect a person against the disease.
- The booster dose is necessary to increase antibody production to a level of immunity
that protects the person against disease.
- Does not offer immediate immunity against a disease.
- Long lasting immunity.
Biology Form 5: Chapter 1

- Time lag between infection and a full immune response because the body needs time to
make its own antibodies against a particular antigen.

b) Passive immunity
- Body receives antibody from an outside source.
- Naturally acquired passive immunity
i) Occurs when a foetus is still in the uterus.
ii) Maternal antibodies cross the placenta to the foetal bloodstream.
iii) They protect the baby during the first few months after birth.
iv) Babies can also acquire passive immunity from antibodies found in the mother’s milk
or colostrum during breastfeeding.
- Artificially acquired passive immunity
i) Passive immunity involves the injection or transfusion of serum containing antibodies
against the disease.
ii) Example: serum which contains antibodies or antiserum from donor, can be injected
into a person who needs antibodies before he travels to a country in which a disease is
widespread.
iii) These antibodies temporarily protect the person in the event of exposure to the
pathogen that causes the disease.
iv) Effective but only lasts as long as the antibodies remain in the blood, usually for about
three months.
v) Short lived and offers only immediate, short term and temporary protection.
Biology Form 5: Chapter 1

AIDS

1. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system.
2. Infection by the HIV results in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
3. AIDS is a condition in which a person who is infected experiences various infections.
4. This is due to the progressive destruction of the immune system cells.
5. The virus reproduces inside the lymphocytes and kills them in the process.
Biology Form 5: Chapter 1

6. A person infected by HIV may-be symptom free for many years.


7. The effect s of the disease may take 8 -10 years to show.
8. Sine the immune system of a person is weakened, the body is prone to infections.
9. Eventually, the immune system collapses and the victim dies of an infection.
10. HIV enters the body through the transfer of body fluids such as blood and semen, or
across the placenta.
11. Newborns can become infected with the virus from their infected mothers during
delivery.
12. HIV infection of the foetus and newborn is usually preventable with proper medical
treatment of the mother during pregnancy and delivery.
13. Teenagers and adults can get the disease from unprotected copulation with infected
individuals.
14. They can also become infected by sharing contaminated needles used for injecting
drugs or tattoo ink.

1.6 Appreciating a Healthy Cardiovascular System

1. Example of diseases that are linked to the cardiovascular system are:


a) coronary thrombosis
b) atherosclerosis
c) heart attack.
2. Cold hands and feet as well as varicose veins are examples of circulatory problems.
3. Although some risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease can be attributed to
genetic factors, there are also many other controllable factors that play a role.
4. Controllable factors that contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease;
a) a diet high in fats and low in fibre
b) lack of exercise
c) obesity
d) smoking
e) stress
f) high cholesterol levels
g) deficiencies in antioxidant vitamins and minerals.
5. Cardiovascular disease usually takes years to develop.
6. Thus, individuals have to be aware of the need to maintain a healthy cardiovascular
system from young.
7. You can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by leading a healthy lifestyle. A
healthy lifestyle includes regular exercise and a proper diet.

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