The Immune System MCAT Exam Guide 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