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Biological Structures And Processes Within An Organism That Provides A Defence Against Disease

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Human’s body is constantly under attack by: bacteria, viruses and many other microorganisms, these are called pathogens. Our body is a rich source of water and nutrients that these pathogens need to survive, it is a perfect environment for them to live and develop. Nevertheless, human’s body has its own way to protect itself from these invaders, therefore most of the time we remain healthy. Immune system is a system of many biological structures and processes within an organism that provides a defence against disease. There are three major lines of our defence against pathogens. The first is to prevent their entry by defences of the skin and mucous membranes in the respiratory, digestive and urogenital tracts. If this fails, two internal defences takes over: an initial non-specific inflammatory response to injury, or if this unsuccessful, is followed by specific immune response. Two major divisions of the immune response: non-specific and specific.

(Rowland, 1992)

Non-specific defence attacks any molecule, which the body recognises as being non-self and skin is the first barrier that antigen needs to pass through. The first layer of the skin – epidermis, consist of the layer of dead skin cells that lack of water and suitable food, which inhibits the growth of micro-organisms inside the epidermis. Sebum, secreted by sebaceous gland in the skin, contains fatty acids, which are toxic to many microorganisms. Areas that are not covered by the skin have alternative

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