Answered: Explain the importance of phagocytosis,…

Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)

11th Edition

ISBN:9780134580999

Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn

Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn

Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1RQ: The correct sequence of levels forming the structural hierarchy is A. (a) organ, organ system,...

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Related questions

Question

Explain the importance of phagocytosis, natural killer cells, and fever in innate body defense.

Expert Solution

Step 1

The innate or the non-specific defense system provides protection against every pathogen entering the body; it forms the body’s initial defense line, which is present within the body since birth, and this defense mechanism is not dependent on antigens.

Step 2

Phagocytosis refers to the process of engulfment of pathogens by phagocytes, and it helps in the removal of infectious agents that crossed the body’s first line of defense.
Natural killer cells destroy cancerous or infected cells via the lysis method as these cells have the potential to differentiate between self and non-self cell surfaces. It thus removes destructive cells before the activation of the adaptive immune response.
Fever which is marked by an abnormal rise in internal body temperature, also aids the innate defense mechanism and occurs in response to foreign microbes that entered the body. Fever works by triggering the spleen and liver to confiscate atoms of iron and zinc, and it also enhances the body’s metabolic rate, which in turn increases the speed of the repair mechanism.