The Immune System MCAT exam with
complete solutions
innate immunity - ANSWER--composed of defenses that are always active but unable to
target specific invaders
-nonspecific immunity
adaptive immunity - ANSWER--specific immunity
-targets a specific pathogen
-slower to attack but retains memory of pathogens
bone marrow - ANSWER--produces all leukocytes(white blood cells) that participate in
the immune system
spleen - ANSWER--location of blood storage and activation of B-cells, which turn into
plasma cells to produce antibodies for adaptive immunity
humoral immunity - ANSWER-the division of adaptive immunity in the blood rather than
cells
T-cells - ANSWER--mature in thymus, small gland in front of the pericardium (sac that
protects the heart)
-T-cells coordinate the immune system and directly kill viral infected cells
Lymph nodes - ANSWER--provide a place for immune cells to communicate and mount
an attack
Gut-associated lymphoid tissue - ANSWER--immune tissue associated with the
digestive system
-includes tonsils and adenoids, Peyer's Patches and lymphoid aggregates in the
appendix
, Leukocytes - ANSWER--produced in bone marrow through hematopoiesis
-divided into granulocytes and agranulocytes
granulocytes - ANSWER--contain granules that contain toxic enzymes and chemicals
-released by exocytosis
hematopoietic stem cells - ANSWER-gives rise to leukocytes, red blood cells and
platelets
Agranulocytes - ANSWER--includes lymphocytes and monocytes
lymphocytes - ANSWER--responsible for antibody production and targeted killing of
infected cells
monocytes - ANSWER--phagocytic cells in the membrane
-become macrophages in tissues
defensins - ANSWER-antibacterial enzymes found on the skin
lysozyme - ANSWER-antibacterial enzyme found in tears and saliva
Gastrointestinal defense - ANSWER--stomach secretes acid to kill pathogens
-large bacteria population in gut, when new bacteria enters, they need to compete
complement system - ANSWER--a form of non-specific defense that consists of a
number of proteins in the blood
-activated through classical pathway (antibody binds to pathogen) or alternative
pathway, no antibodies
-the proteins punch holes in bacteria
interferons - ANSWER--proteins that prevent viral replication and dispersion
-cells that have been infected by viruses produce these
macrophages - ANSWER--agranulocytes that reside in tissue
-become a resident population in the tissue
-once activated it phagocytizes the invader through endocytosis
-then it digests the invader with enzymes
-lastly it gives little pieces of the invader to other cells using the protein major
histocompatibility complex
complete solutions
innate immunity - ANSWER--composed of defenses that are always active but unable to
target specific invaders
-nonspecific immunity
adaptive immunity - ANSWER--specific immunity
-targets a specific pathogen
-slower to attack but retains memory of pathogens
bone marrow - ANSWER--produces all leukocytes(white blood cells) that participate in
the immune system
spleen - ANSWER--location of blood storage and activation of B-cells, which turn into
plasma cells to produce antibodies for adaptive immunity
humoral immunity - ANSWER-the division of adaptive immunity in the blood rather than
cells
T-cells - ANSWER--mature in thymus, small gland in front of the pericardium (sac that
protects the heart)
-T-cells coordinate the immune system and directly kill viral infected cells
Lymph nodes - ANSWER--provide a place for immune cells to communicate and mount
an attack
Gut-associated lymphoid tissue - ANSWER--immune tissue associated with the
digestive system
-includes tonsils and adenoids, Peyer's Patches and lymphoid aggregates in the
appendix
, Leukocytes - ANSWER--produced in bone marrow through hematopoiesis
-divided into granulocytes and agranulocytes
granulocytes - ANSWER--contain granules that contain toxic enzymes and chemicals
-released by exocytosis
hematopoietic stem cells - ANSWER-gives rise to leukocytes, red blood cells and
platelets
Agranulocytes - ANSWER--includes lymphocytes and monocytes
lymphocytes - ANSWER--responsible for antibody production and targeted killing of
infected cells
monocytes - ANSWER--phagocytic cells in the membrane
-become macrophages in tissues
defensins - ANSWER-antibacterial enzymes found on the skin
lysozyme - ANSWER-antibacterial enzyme found in tears and saliva
Gastrointestinal defense - ANSWER--stomach secretes acid to kill pathogens
-large bacteria population in gut, when new bacteria enters, they need to compete
complement system - ANSWER--a form of non-specific defense that consists of a
number of proteins in the blood
-activated through classical pathway (antibody binds to pathogen) or alternative
pathway, no antibodies
-the proteins punch holes in bacteria
interferons - ANSWER--proteins that prevent viral replication and dispersion
-cells that have been infected by viruses produce these
macrophages - ANSWER--agranulocytes that reside in tissue
-become a resident population in the tissue
-once activated it phagocytizes the invader through endocytosis
-then it digests the invader with enzymes
-lastly it gives little pieces of the invader to other cells using the protein major
histocompatibility complex
