The first non-specific response is inflammation. Inflammation is a response which occurs within the body which is activated as a result of an injury being caused to a living tissue. This response is a form of defence mechanism which protects the human body from an infection or further injury. The aim of this response is to reduce the damage of an injury and to eliminate any damaged tissue which is preventing the body from healing.
An inflammation response is carried out with a change in the flow of blood, an increased absorbency of the blood vessels and a relocation of fluid, protein and leukocyte white blood cells from the normal circulation to the location of the injury and tissue which has been damaged or requires healing. An acute inflammation
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As well as phagocytes, there are also white blood cells which are circulating the body, these are called neutrophils and monocytes. Within the body’s tissue, monocytes are turned into phagocytic cells, which are known as macrophages. These macrophages transport through the tissues in the body, completing the process of phagocytosis and destroying/removing pathogenic agents from circulation. Phagocytes are responsible for initiating the processes involved within the immune system.
The phagocytosis process is initiated with the appendage and ingestion of microbial organisms into an organelle, referred to as aphagosome. Once it has entered the phagocyte, the phagosome which contains the micro-organism combines with a lysosome. The combination of the phagosome and lysosome creates a aphagolysosome. Surrounding micro-organisms are eliminated immediately and the debris of particles from destroyed micro-organisms are removed from the cell throughout a process of
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This is a natural defence mechanism which allows for the body to remove any foreign particles from the organs. Blood coagulation is another non-specific defence mechanism. As soon as an injury occurs, the blood begins its process of coagulation and is responsible for repairing the damage which has been implemented on the blood vessel and to the endothelium tissue.
The process of blood coagulation relates to the term haemostasis. Haemostasis is a process of stopping the flow of the blood. When a blood vessel is damaged or injured, the platelets in the blood become attached to macromolecules which are located in the endothelial tissues and form a haemostatic plug. Coagulation consists of platelets and protein. These platelets form the primary layer which creates the haemostatic plug. This process protects the body from infection and disease as the fast-healing motion reduces the risk of pathogens and micro-organisms entering the body through the damaged skin and blood
Carlton suffered an acute tissue injury on his foot after stepping on a sharp edge shell, which disrupted the layers of the skin. Immediately after an injury occurs, an inflammatory response begins, which serves to control and eliminate altered tissue/cells, microorganism, and antigens. This takes place in two phases. 1) The vascular phase, in which small vessels(arterioles, venules) at the site of injury undergo changes. Beginning, with
Haemolytic colonies were classified by a white ring around the patched colony, indicating that haemolysis of the blood agar occurred. Conversely, non-haemolytic colonies were classified by a lack of a white ring, which indicated that no haemolysis took place.
The immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body, and it defends the body from “foreign invaders.” Immunity can be divided in two three different defenses, and these are defined as first, second and third lines of defense. The first line of defense for the immune system is the primary defense against pathogens entering the body from the surface in order to prevent the start of disease and infection. Some examples of the first line of defense is the skin, protecting the external boundaries of the body, and the mucous membranes, protecting the internal boundaries of the body. Although the skin and mucous membranes work on the internal and external boundaries, they both release chemicals
Protection- The cardiovascular system protects the body through its white blood cells. Platelets and red blood cells form scabs to seal wounds and prevent pathogens from entering the body and liquids from leaking out.
Each part of the immune system plays a certain role in keeping pathogens out of the body. Bone marrow is the soft material found inside bones. It is used to make the lymphocytes needed in the body every day. Located above the heart, the thymus is a gland that helps produce a special kind of lymphocyte.
Many great historical figures of the scientific community have written on the subject of the same perplexing disease over the centuries (Angus, van der Poll, Finfer, Vincent 2013). Sepsis has been given many names, origins, and etiologies. In the 4th century, Hippocrates declared the disease the cause of organic decomposition, wound festering, and swamp gas (Angus et al. 2013). During the 19th century, Louis Pasteur theorized the disease was the outcome of a pathogenic microorganism in the bloodstream, which resulted in a body-wide infection (Angus et al. 2013). In the 21st century, the medical community made a breakthrough with the discovery of the disease’s link to the inflammatory response system and devised a plan of action to combat the high mortality rates among those infected (Angus et al. 2013). According to Hotchkiss, Monneret, & Payen (2013) the effects of sepsis are well documented, while the molecular processes it utilizes are still being explored; however, new studies are helping to expand our understanding of the centuries old disease.
In septic patients, increased levels of PAI-1 inhibit plasminogen activator (t-PA), which converts plasminogen to plasmin. Release of fibrin inhibits fibrinolysis by activation of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI). In addition, the release of PAF causes platelet aggregation. This combination of inhibition of fibrinolysis, fibrin strand production and platelet aggregation contribute to a state of coagulopathy. This can lead to microcirculatory dysfunction with isolated or multiple organ dysfunction and cell death. Mr Hertz’s coagulation profile showed a fibrinogen level of 5.6 g/L, indicating that coagulopathies were underway in his system.
The inflammatory response is a nonspecific response to cellular injury and bacterial invasion. Inflammation is the primary defense in early gingivitis. Biofilm can initiate an inflammatory response if it is left undisturbed for as little as seventy two hours. Redness and swelling are two of the cardinal signs of inflammation and can be observed clinically in gingivitis. Histamine is released by mast cells and responsible for the redness and swelling of tissues. Histamine causes both an increase in vascularity and permeability of blood vessels at the site of injury. Swelling may occur in response to the accumulation of fluid at a specific site. The inflammatory response includes cellular components of the immune system polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are crucial to the cellular immune response. Polyporphonuclear leukocytes are the first cells that arrive at an inflammatory site. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes arrive at the site via chemotaxis, and begin to phagocytize bacteria. As the disease continues and the inflammatory reaction is not strong enough to subside the bacterial infection the immune response is further
According to this quotation, without white blood cells, also known as leukocytes, we would not be able to survive. White blood cells are our body’s number one defense against infections. They help keep us clean from foreign bacteria that enter our bodies. Statistics show that there are five to ten thousand white blood cells per micro liter of blood, however this number will increase during an illness. White blood cells can differ in many ways, such as, size, shape and staining traits. There are five different kinds of white blood cells that fall into two separate categories. One category is called, granular leukocytes, and the other is called agranular white cells.
When a child falls and scraps their knee or gets a cut in his or her hand, their first conscious instinct is to cry and run to the nearest parent, however their body’s first instinct is to contain and coagulate the blood. Even as adults, people never have to sit there after getting a paper cut and think, “Ok body, coagulate!” The body jumps into action automatically and without any prompting from our conscious mind. In a typical wound, the body goes through four stages; hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2903966/). In hemostasis, the skin constricts and a clot forms. Once the cut has coagulated, the inflammation cells enter the wound and remove invading microbes and debris. The proliferation phase overlaps with the inflammation phase to rebuild collagen and granulation tissue so a scab will appear. The ...
Phagocytosis acts a second line of protection. According to Tortora, Funke & Case phase one, in the phases of phagocytosis, is chemotaxis and adherence of microbe to phagocyte. Phase two, is the ingestion of microbe by phagocyte. Phase three, is the formation of a phagosome. Phase four, is the fusion of the phagosome with a lysosome to form a phagolysosome. Phase five, is the digestion of ingested microbe by enzymes. Phase six, is the formation of residual body containing indigestible material. Phase seven, is the discharge of waste materials. Granulocytes and agranulocytes are both phagocytes. Granulocytes consist of neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils, which has visible granules inside the cytoplasm. Agranulocytes have granules in the interior of their cytoplasm, but they are not visible under the light microscope after the
Acute inflammation is triggered when the human body experiences trauma or injury. The signs and symptoms of Acute Inflammation include redness, pain, swelling, heat and loss of function (Porth 2011, p. 55). In Acute Inflammation there are two different stages, the vascular stage involves the blood vessels and how blood flow is involved and they changes that happen after injury has occurred and the cellular stage of Acute Inflammation, the cells that are involved are the leukocytes and neutrophils (Porth 2011, p.
Immediately after wounding, the first phase of hemostatsis sets in motion with vascular constriction which restricts the blood flow in the blood vessels followed by the platelets plug formation which creates a temporary blockage of blood flow and then coagulation takes place with fibrin clot formation. The clot and surrounding tissue release pro-inflammatory growth factors and cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-13, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF).
Our blood is able to connect all our organs together to create one organism and is able to transport the most vital and important molecules through these blood streams. Hence, blood cells are needed for immune system function and metabolic functions.
Our body has its own defense system and it fights and battles to protect us from infections and injuries. Inflammation is one of those defense responses, and while it doesn’t give you a great feeling, it does tell you that your body is sending nutrients and immune cells to an area of your body in need.