The Role of the

Circulatory System in
the Bodys Defence
Mechanism
1. Humans are constantly invaded by
disease-causing microorganisms or
pathogens.
2. A healthy body is able to protect itself
from these pathogens.
3. Besides transport, the circulatory system
plays an important role to bodys
defence mechanism against diseases.
4. There are three lines of defence
mechanism in the body.
The first line of defence
i. The first line of defence is the bodys
natural barriers, including the skin and
mucous membranes.
ii. The function of the first line of defence
is to prevent pathogens from entering
the body.
iii. 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. 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.
v. 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. The second line of defence deals with
pathogens that have bypassed the first
line of defence.
ii. 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. Lymphocytes in the blood produce
chemicals called antibodies that destroy
bacteria and viruses before they get
inside the body cells.
ii. 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. When an antigen enters the body, the
lymphocyte produces a specific antibody to
interact with the antigen.
2. 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 Passive
Natural Artificial 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