SSHS Human Anatomy & Physiology
Integration and Control Unit Topic 3
Integration and Control
Immune System
Topical Understanding
Disease is a change, other than injury, that disrupts the normal functions of the body. Some
diseases are produced by agents, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Others are caused by materials in
the environment. Still others are inherited. Infectious diseases are spread from one source to another.
The function of the immune system is to fight infection through the production of cells that inactivate
foreign substances or cells. Nonspecific defenses include the skin and the inflammatory response.
Specific defenses include humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity. Vaccinations provide both
active and passive immunity to disease.
Disorders of the immune system can result in allergies, asthma, and autoimmune diseases such
as HIV.
Essential Questions
 How does the immune system depend upon all other body systems? How do other body systems
depend upon the immune system?
 How are diseases caused and transmitted?
 How the skin present the first line of nonspecific defense?
 How does the inflammatory response help the body when it has been damaged by injury or
infection?
 How does the structure of antibodies support their function?
 How do vaccines support the immune system?
 What can be done for people with immune system disorders?
Areas of Focus
= The Germ Theory of disease
= Agents and spread of disease
= Nonspecific defenses
= Specific defenses
= Acquired immunity and disorders of the immune system
C. Gay Revised 8/09
SSHS Human Anatomy & Physiology
Integration and Control Unit Topic 3
Knowledge
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Biology Textbook Reference
Germ Theory of Disease
Chapter 40.1-4 pp. 1030-1059
o Koch’s postulates
o Definition of disease
o Agents of disease (viruses, bacteria, protists, worms, fungi)
o Spread of disease (physical contact, food & water, infected animals)
o Fighting infectious disease
Nonspecific defenses
o Role of skin
o Inflammatory response
o Interferon
Specific defenses
o Humoral immunity, B cells, antibodies
o Cell-mediated immunity, T cells
Transplants
Acquired immunity: passive and active
Immune system disorders
o Allergies
o Asthma
o Autoimmune diseases (diabetes, rheumatoid arthroitis, MS)
o AIDS
Skills:
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Vocabulary skills
Data collection, representation and analysis
C. Gay Revised 8/09