1.5 Defence Mechanisms

Stopping Pathogens

Our bodies prevent pathogens from getting into our bodies in two ways;

• Our skin - covers our whole body
• Mucus - Pathogens get trapped in the mucus then our stomach acids break them down.

Immune System

A system, including the thymus and bone marrow and lymphoid tissues, that protects the body from foreign substances and pathogenic organisms by producing the immune response.

White Blood Cells (WBC) are part of our immune system. They doo three things;

• Produce anti-toxins to counteract the toxins of pathogens
• Produce anti-bodies to help destoy particular pathogens
• Ingest pathogens - digest and destroy them.