The Role of the

Circulatory System in
the Bodys Defence
Mechanism

1.

2.

3.

4.

Humans are constantly invaded by

disease-causing microorganisms or
pathogens.
A healthy body is able to protect
itself from these pathogens.
Besides transport, the circulatory
system plays an important role to
bodys defence mechanism against
diseases.
There are three lines of defence
mechanism in the body.

The first line of defence

i.

ii.

iii.

The first line of defence is the bodys

natural barriers, including the skin
and mucous membranes.
The function of the first line of
defence is to prevent pathogens
from entering the body.
The skin is an effective barrier
against the entry of microorganisms
because of its tough outer layer of
closely packed dead cell.

The first line of defence

iv.

v.

The mucous membrane consists of cells

lining the respiratory tract and openings
of the urinary and reproductive systems.
The membrane secretes a protective
layer of mucus.
Mucus is sticky and traps pathogens and
other particles. For example, dust and
microorganisms breathed in through the
nose are trapped in sticky mucus which
covers the membranes lining the nasal
cavity and trachea. Trapped dust and
microorganisms are the carried by cilia to
the esophagus, where they are swallowed
and eventually passed out in the faeces.

The second line of defence

i.

ii.

The second line of defence deals

with pathogens that have bypassed
the first line of defence.
The second line of the defence
involved phagocytic while blood
cells such as the neutrophils and
monocytes (macrophages).
Macrophages develop from
monocytes.

Process of phagocytosis
Stage 1 The phagocyte is attracted to
chemicals produced by the microorganism
(bacterium).
Stage 2 The phagocyte sticks to the
microorganism.
Stage 3 The phagocyte extends its
pseudopodia to engulf the microorganism.
Stage 4 The phagocyte produces hydrolytic
enzymes to digest the microorganism.
Stage 5 The products of digestion are
absorbed
into the cytoplasm by the
phagocyte.

Process of phagocytosis

The third line of defence

i.

ii.

Lymphocytes in the blood produce

chemicals called antibodies that
destroy bacteria and viruses before
they get inside the body cells.
Lymphocytes originate in the bone
marrow and migrate to the lymph
nodes, where they mature and
continue to multiply in larges
numbers.

Immunity, Antigen, Antibody and

Immunisation

Immunity is the ability of an

organism to resist infection.
An antigen is a foreign substance
capable of stimulating an immune
response or for the formation of
antibodies. Examples of antigens are
pathogens, toxic substances, and
various harmless molecules and cells.

Immunity, Antigen, Antibody and Immunisation

Antibodies are proteins that interact with
the antigens and thereby rendering them
harmless. Antibodies are highly specific
because each type of antibody can interact
with one specific antigen only.
Immunisation is a technique used to
induce immunity to a specific disease in
humans or the animals by exposing the
individual to an antigen in order to
stimulate the production of specific
antibodies. Immunisation is achieved
through injecting a vaccine that contains
killed or severely weakened antigen into
the body of an individual.

How do antigen and antibody relate to

immunity?
1.

2.

When an antigen enters the body, the

lymphocyte produces a specific antibody
to interact with the antigen.
Antibodies vary in their effects on
antigens.
a.
Opsonins are antibodies that bind
to
antigens on the outer surface of a
microorganism. This enables
phagocytes to recognise the
microorganism and destroy it.

How do antigen and antibody relate to

immunity?
b. Agglutinins are antibodies that bind
to
antigens, causing the microorganism to clump
together. In this state, the
microorganisms
cannot enter the host
cells to reproduce.
c. Lysins are antibodies that bind to the
antigens
of a microorganism causing
the microorganism to
rupture or
disintegrate.
d.
Antitoxins are antibodies that bind to
the
toxins produced by microorganisms rendering them
harmless to the body.
3. Antibodies provide specific immunity to the body.

Various types of immunity

Typer of
immunity

Active

Natural

Artificial

Passive

Natural

Artificial

Active immunity

Occurs when an individuals own

immune system produces its own
antibodies to defend against specific
antigens.

Two types of active immunity.

Natural active immunity

a. It occurs after an individual has
recovered
from certain diseases.
a. For these disease, such as mumps,
measles and chicken pox.
Artificial active immunity
a. It can be established upon
immunisation or vaccination.
b. Vaccines consist of living but harmless
(attenuated) pathogens, dead pathogens,
or toxic chemicals from pathogens which
have been rendered harmless (toxoids)

Two types of active immunity.

Artificial active immunity

a. It can be established upon immunisation
or vaccination.
b. Vaccines consist of living but harmless
(attenuated) pathogens, dead
pathogens, or toxic chemicals from
pathogens which have been rendered
harmless (toxoids)
c. Vaccines are normally injected into the
body
to activate the lymphocytes which
will be well-pathogen gets into the body.
d. Vaccines are available for diseases such
as rubella, mumps, measles and
poliomyelitis.

Graph showing antibody level in the blood of an individual

after vaccination

Passive Immunity

Occurs when an individual is given

the antibodies required to defend
against the pathogen.

Two types of passive immunity.

Natural passive immunity

a. It occurs when antibodies
produced by
the mother are
passed across the placenta to the
fetus during
development or in a
early infancy
through breast milk.
b. The first formewd milk called
coloctrum is very rich in antibodies.

Two types of passive immunity.

Artificial passive immunity

a. It is achieved when ready-made
antibody or antiserum is injected into
the individual.
b. Such antiserum is prepared from
the
blood of humans, cows or
horses.
c. Antiserums are used to treat
individuals exposed to rabies,
hepatitis, tetanus
and snakebites.

Graph showing antibody level in the blood of an individual

after antiserum injection

Differences between active immunity and passive

immunity
Active immunity

Passive immunity

The body cells of an

individual produce
the antibodies
required to destroy
the pathogen.

An individual is given
the antibodies
required to destroy
the pathogen.

Can last for months

or years

Can only last for a

short period of about
one month