PCOL 838 THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. EXAM
2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the two arms of the immune system?
- innate immunity
- adaptive immunity
what are mechanisms of innate immunity?
- rapid response (minutes to hours)
- fixed response
- limited number of specificities
- constant during response
what are mechanisms of adaptive immunity?
- slow response (days-weeks)
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,- variable
- numerous highly selective specificities
- improve during response
what are examples of innate immunity?
- anatomical barriers
- phagocytic cells
- complement: direct activities of some phagocytic cells
What happens if lacking innate or adaptive immunity?
Adaptive only
The infection cannot be controlled - needs the innate to signal the adaptive immunity
- all animal/ organisms have it
Innate only
The infection is recognized (begins to fight it) but the innate alone cannot control the infection
- Not all animal/ organisms have it, evolved later
Examples of innate immunity
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, Anatomical barriers
– Physical and chemical barriers
Phagocytic cells
– Patrol bloodstream and tissue and rush to site of infection
Complement
– Direct activities of some phagocytic cells
what immune mechanism is the spleen responsible for?
- filters for bloodborne pathogens
what is the main function of Red blood cells?
Transport O2 and CO2
what is the main function of neutrophils?
(Granulocyte)
-phagocytose and destroy invading bacteria
-most of the WBC (leucocytes)
what is the main function of eosinophils?
(Granulocyte)
-destroy larger, parasites and modulate allergic inflammatory responses
what is the main function of basophils?
3 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the two arms of the immune system?
- innate immunity
- adaptive immunity
what are mechanisms of innate immunity?
- rapid response (minutes to hours)
- fixed response
- limited number of specificities
- constant during response
what are mechanisms of adaptive immunity?
- slow response (days-weeks)
1 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
,- variable
- numerous highly selective specificities
- improve during response
what are examples of innate immunity?
- anatomical barriers
- phagocytic cells
- complement: direct activities of some phagocytic cells
What happens if lacking innate or adaptive immunity?
Adaptive only
The infection cannot be controlled - needs the innate to signal the adaptive immunity
- all animal/ organisms have it
Innate only
The infection is recognized (begins to fight it) but the innate alone cannot control the infection
- Not all animal/ organisms have it, evolved later
Examples of innate immunity
2 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
, Anatomical barriers
– Physical and chemical barriers
Phagocytic cells
– Patrol bloodstream and tissue and rush to site of infection
Complement
– Direct activities of some phagocytic cells
what immune mechanism is the spleen responsible for?
- filters for bloodborne pathogens
what is the main function of Red blood cells?
Transport O2 and CO2
what is the main function of neutrophils?
(Granulocyte)
-phagocytose and destroy invading bacteria
-most of the WBC (leucocytes)
what is the main function of eosinophils?
(Granulocyte)
-destroy larger, parasites and modulate allergic inflammatory responses
what is the main function of basophils?
3 @COPYRIGHT THESTAR 2025/2026
