BRAINCAKEDefence Mechanisms
The body has specific and non-specific defence mechanisms.
Specific defence mechanisms involve white blood cells called B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes.
Non-specific defence mechanisms involve white blood cells called phagocytes and a range of other defence mechanisms.
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Key terms in this lesson
- pathogen
- A microorganism, such as a virus, bacterium, fungus or protoctist, that causes disease.
- B-lymphocyte
- A type of white blood cell, matured in the bone marrow, responsible for the humoral immune response and antibody production.
- T-lymphocyte
- A type of white blood cell, matured in the thymus gland, responsible for the cell-mediated immune response.
- tissue fluid
- The fluid, formed by the filtration of blood plasma under hydrostatic pressure, that surrounds cells and supplies them with substances.
More in Cell Recognition and the Immune System
- The Immune System
- Lymphocytes and Phagocytes
- Recognising Self and Non-Self Cells
- Phagocytosis
- Antigens
- Lymphocytes
- Cell-Mediated Immunity
- Cytotoxic T-cells
All 30 lessons in Cell Recognition and the Immune System · All AQA AS-level Biology topics