Critical Reading Disease

Critical Reading
Read this passage from the lesson and answer the following questions.
First Line of Defense
The immune system has three lines of defense. The first line of defense includes a
variety of barriers against pathogens that keep most pathogens out of the body.
Pathogens are disease-causing agents, such as bacteria and viruses. Defenses in
the first line are the same regardless of the type of pathogen. This is why they are
called nonspecific defenses. Several types of pathogens that are common causes of
human disease can be seen in the figure below.
Mechanical Barriers
Mechanical barriers physically block pathogens from entering the body. The skin is
the most important mechanical barrier. In fact, it is the single most important defense
of the body against pathogens. It forms a physical barrier between the body and the
outside world. The outer layer of the skin is a tough, nearly water-proof coating that
is very difficult for pathogens to penetrate.
At body openings, such as the mouth and nose, the body has a different mechanical
barrier. Instead of skin, mucous membranes line these and other organs that are
exposed to the outside environment. They include the organs of the respiratory,
gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts. Mucous membranes secrete mucus, a slimy
substance that coats the membranes and traps pathogens. Mucous membranes also
have cilia, which are tiny projections that have wavelike motions. The movements of
cilia sweep mucus and trapped pathogens toward body openings to be removed
from the body.
Pathogens are removed from the respiratory tract when you sneeze or cough. In
addition, tears wash pathogens from the eyes, and urine flushes pathogens out of
the urinary tract.
Chemical Barriers
Chemical barriers are proteins that destroy pathogens at the body’s surface. The
skin and mucous membranes secrete proteins that kill many of the pathogens with
which they come into contact. For example, enzymes called lysozymes—which are
found in sweat, mucus, tears, and saliva—kill pathogens by breaking open their cell
walls. Urine and vaginal secretions are too acidic for many pathogens, and semen
contains zinc, which most pathogens cannot tolerate. Hydrochloric acid secreted by
mucous membranes lining the stomach kills pathogens that enter the stomach in
food or water.
Biological Barriers
Biological barriers involve living organisms that compete with pathogens. Human
skin is covered by millions of bacteria. Millions more colonize the gastrointestinal,
urinary, and genital tracts. Most of these bacteria are helpful or at least not harmful.
They are important in defense because they help prevent harmful bacteria from
becoming established in or on the body. They do this by competing with harmful
bacteria for food and space. Helpful bacteria may also change pH or other factors
and make conditions less suitable for harmful bacteria.
Questions
1. Name and briefly describe the immune system’s first line of defense..
The first line of defence includes a variety of barriers against pathogens that
keep them out of the body
2. How can the skin be considered part of the immune system?
The skin is a physical barrier between the body and the outside world, the
outer layer of the skin is tough and practically water-proof this makes it hard
for the pathogens to penetrate.
3. What are mucous membranes? Where are they found?.
The mucous membranes are found at body openings, such as the mouth and
nose. The membrane produces mucus that traps the pathogens and takes
them back to the openings to get rid of.
4. Are all bacteria that live in the human body harmful? Why or why not?
No, some of these bacteria help prevent harmful bacteria from being
established in the body.
5. What is the purpose of the cilia of the cells that line the respiratory
tract?.
To trap the pathogens and take them back to the openings to discard.
Multiple Choice
Circle the letter of the correct choice.
1. A component of the immune system’s first line of defense is

a. the spine.
b. the skin.
c. antibodies.
d. cytokines.
2. Lysozymes
a. produce acid from protein.
b. are antibodies that bind to red blood cells.
c. are enzymes that break down bacterial cell walls.
d. are enzymes that break down histamines.
3. Mucus is produced by
a. none of the above.
b. by the respiratory tract, but not by the intestinal tract.
c. by healthy tissues, including the respiratory tract and intestinal tract.
d. only damaged respiratory passages.
4. A chemical that is produced as part of the inflammatory response is
a. flagella.
b. cilia.
c. monoamine.
d. histamine.
5. A type of human immune system cell that ingests pathogens by phagocytosis
is
a. neuron.
b. macrophage.
c. muscle cell.
d. bacteria.
Vocabulary
Match the vocabulary term with the correct definition.
Term Definition
__×__ 1. pathogens a. Defenses that are the same regardless of the
type of pathogen; found in the first and second
line of defense.
____ 2. lysozymes d. Enzymes that kill pathogens by breaking open
their cell walls; found in sweat, mucus, tears, and
saliva.
____ 3. cytokines g. Proteins that act as chemical signals used to
communicate between cells.
____ 4. chemical barriers f. Chemicals that destroy pathogens at the body’s
surface.
____ 5. white blood cells e. leukocytes
____ 6. nonspecific defenses a. Defenses that are the same regardless of the
type of pathogen; found in the first and second
line of defense.
____ 7. inflammatory h. A complex biological reaction to tissue damage;
response one of the first responses of the immune system
to infection or injury; triggered by chemicals called
cytokines and histamines.
__×__ 8. histamines j. chemicals that cause inflammation
____ 9. biological barriers b. Living organisms that compete with pathogens;
help prevent harmful bacteria from becoming
established in or on the body.
____ 10. phagocytosis i. The process of engulfing and breaking down
pathogens and other unwanted substances.
Immune Response: True or False
Write true if the statement is true or false if the statement is false.
1. ___T___ 1. The third line of defense is nonspecific.

2. ___F___ 2. The lymphatic system is not part of the immune system.
3. ___T___ 3. The lymphatic system transports fatty acids out of the
bloodstream.
4. ___T___ 4. The lymphatic system produces white blood cells.
5. ___T___ 5. Another name for white blood cell is leukocyte.
6. ___T___ 6. The red bone marrow is part of the lymphatic system.
7. ___T___ 7. T cells mature in the thymus.
8. ___T___ 8. The spleen makes new red blood cells.
9. ___F___ 9. Humans cannot survive without tonsils.
10. ___F___ 10.Lymph is pumped through the lymphatic vessels by the lymphatic
pumping organ.
11. ___F___ 11. B cells mature in the thymus.
12. ___T___ 12. A major function of the humoral immune system is to destroy
proteins that are non-self.
13. ___T___ 13. Both T cells and B cells have receptors that bind specifically to a
particular antigen.
14. ___T___ 14. Helper T cell cytokines stimulate the development of B cells into
mature antibody-producing cells.
15. ___T___ 15. The base of a Y-shaped antibody is the part of the protein that
binds specifically to an antigen.
Lesson: Critical Reading
Read this passage from the lesson and answer the questions that follow.
B Cell Activation
Naïve B cells are activated by an antigen in the sequence of events shown in the
figure below. A B cell encounters its matching antigen and engulfs it. The B cell then
displays fragments of the antigen on its surface. This attracts a helper T cell (which
you will read about below). The helper T cell binds to the B cell at the antigen site
and releases cytokines. As you read in Lesson 1, cytokines are chemical signals
used to communicate between cells. Cytokines from the helper T cell stimulate the B
cell to develop into plasma cells or memory cells.
Questions
1. What is the first step in the activation of a naïve B cell?

When a B cell encounters the matching antigen and engulfs it.
2. What is the second step in the activation process?
The B cell then displays fragments of the antigen to attract a helper T

cell, this cell binds to the B cell and releases cytokines.
3. Define antigen display as illustrated in the above figure.

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Critical Reading

First Line of Defense

2. How can the skin be considered part of the immune system?

3. What are mucous membranes? Where are they found?.

Circle the letter of the correct choice.

1. A component of the immune system’s first line of defense is

Match the vocabulary term with the correct definition.

Write true if the statement is true or false if the statement is false.

1. _T_ 1. The third line of defense is nonspecific.

Lesson: Critical Reading

1. What is the first step in the activation of a naïve B cell?

2. What is the second step in the activation process?

The B cell then displays fragments of the antigen to attract a helper T

3. Define antigen display as illustrated in the above figure.

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