BIOL 134 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Innate Immune System, Humoral Immunity, Humorism
Document Summary
The portion of our immune system that must learn by being exposed to pathogens. Newborns and young children have weaker defenses. No need to be exposed to organisms. But also limited ability to adapt to new threats. The main circulatory system is driven by heartbeat. Fluid in tissues drains into lymphatic capillaries. Factors found in the blood and lymph that directly bind pathogens. Cells that recognize pathogens and signal responses. The major component of the humoral system are antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that circulate through the blood, and recognize certain molecules, antigens. Anything that can cause an antibody to be produced = antigen. Antigens bind tightly and specifically to their antibody. Multiple classes of ig, determined by the constant regions. Effectiveness of each depends on what specific pathogen is being attacked to (self cells, large pathogens) Antibodies are produced by b cells made in our bone marrow. Cells that circulate in our blood and lymph.
