Besides the ability to move by amoeboid motion, what other phy...

Question

Besides the ability to move by amoeboid motion, what other physiological attributes contribute to the function of white blood cells in the body?

Accepted Answer

Welcome back, everyone. We need to match the physiological attributes of white blood cells with their corresponding functions. We are given the four physiological attributes. One being chemotaxis, two phagocytosis, three cytokine production and four immunological memory. And we are given a through D which list their potential corresponding functions. We then also have the answer choices to choose from A through D which pair up the physiological attribute with its potential corresponding function. Let's figure out what would be correct. Let's start out with the first physi physiological attribute listed as chemo toes. So we're going to draw a concentration gradient. So we'll represent that by two separate boxes where in the first box, we have a smaller or lower concentration of immune cells, we'll draw in a white blood cell as a circle. And in the second box, there's a higher concentration of these white blood cells. Now take note that this higher concentration of white blood cells is associated with the presence of an infection or inflammation. And recall that at sites of infection or inflammation, there is the presence of strong chemical signals which signal for immune cells to be drawn to where they are most needed at again sites of infection or inflammation. So we should draw an arrow signifying that movement of the white blood cell towards the site of infection where there is now a higher concentration of white blood cells. Now overall this process is described as chemo. So when cells move in response to chemical signals that is then chemotaxis. Now let's move on and look at the functions given and looking at function c which states migration towards site of infection or inflammation that certainly aligns with the physiological attribute of chemo toes. So we will write one dash c as a representation of our first potential answer so far. Now let's move on to the second physiological attribute of phagocytosis. So we're going to visualize the circulatory system where blood is flowing and say we have the presence of some pathogens, which I will represent as rough circles with regard to white blood cells. When it comes to pathogens or debris in the blood, their role as immune cells are to try to eliminate these pathogens. And so we're going to recall that the mechanism used by immune cells to remove these pathogens is known as phagocytosis, where specifically phagocytes, which can include in the human body, either neutrophils, a type of white blood cell or macrophages. So, these phagocytes are able to extend portions of their cell membrane around the pathogen which eventually fully closes it in as a part of their own cell body within a compartment known as a phagosome. And the phagosome will merge with another compartment within the white blood cell, known as a lysosome, which contains digestive enzymes and those enzymes can break down the pathogen which will eventually eliminate from the blood. So, based on what we've outlined with regard to phagocytosis, looking at the functions given we have d engulf and digest foreign particles and pathogens. And that certainly aligns with the physiological attribute to phagocytes, performing phagocytosis to remove those foreign particles from the blood. So we'll next list two comma D as our second potential answer. And now we have three which we can focus on outlining which is cytokine production. Let's start by visualizing a damaged cell. So with regard to a damaged cell in the body, cytokine production is important because a certain type of cytokine can be released known as chemokines, which I'll represent as these small dots exiting from the cell or being released by the damaged cell. So these chemokines are an example of a certain type of cytokine that recall direct migration of immune cells through chemo taxis. So for example, upon the release of these chemokines, there is then a chemical gradient that is created. So that's the chemical gradient. And there is then the guidance enabled for an immune cell such as a white blood cell to travel via that chemical gradient sort of like a map towards the site of damage where the white blood cell is then able to perform an immune response to help repair that site of damage. So, ultimately, cytokines are going to be small proteins released by the cell, either by the damaged cell or by the immune cells where to be even more clear, we have either pro inflammatory cytokines versus anti-inflammatory cytokines. So, with regard to pro inflammatory cytokines, in the example that I've outlined, that would be the damaged cell that is releasing the chemokines to stimulate an immune response. And the anti inflammatory cytokines are going to be released by the immune white blood cells to signal further white blood cells to ultimately resolve of the inflammation on the damaged cell and promote healing. So going back to our functions that are listed function, a release signaling molecules for immune coordination definitely bonds to what we outlined with regard to cytokine production, an essential physiological attribute for both damaged cells and immune cells. So let's list then three dash A as our third potential answer. And now moving on to the fourth physiological attribute of immunological memory, we're going to show the encounter of a pathogen which I'll represent as a green rough circle with an immune cell cell will show a lymphocyte present, which again is a type of white blood cell. So upon the encounter of this immune lymphocyte to the pathogen, as we stated, its role is to ultimately get rid of this pathogen using an immune response. And at first encounter, this process is not going to be super fast. It might take a, a moment for the white blood cell to determine what sort of pathogen is present. Now, let's say that this pathogen then reoccurs within the body at a later time. And so there is then another immune response of another white blood cell where upon application of immunological memory that allows the immune response in order to get rid of this pathogen to occur much faster. So we'll show show at the clock where we have a faster immune response. And the first encounter was a slower clock with a slower immune response. Because again, that immune cell is only initially learning of this pathogen, where then upon application of immunological memory, the immune cell is able to quickly recognize the pathogen and can respond more rapidly with its immune response. So looking at our listed functions, we are only left with B which states remember specific antigens for a faster immune response. And that definitely correlates to what we covered with regard to immunological memory. So we'll we'll next list for dash B as our corresponding choice. And now looking at the answer choices based on what we outlined, we would rule out choice. A which pairs chemo toes with the incorrect function of engulfing and digesting foreign particles and pathogens where we agreed that, that correlates more so to fao, which again allows the immune cells to digest these particles or break them down and remove them. Moving on to choice B, we would also rule out choice B because it pairs the physiological attribute of cytokine production with the function of immunological memory where you remember specific antigens for a faster immune response that is not a correct pair. So we would rule out choice B and then we have choice C which incorrectly pairs chemo taxis with the release of signaling molecules for immune coordination where again, that function coordinates to cytokine production. So we rule out choice C and let's check at, let's check choice D we have one dash C two dash D three dash A and four dash B. And that certainly aligns with all of the pairs of physiological attributes and the corresponding functions that we covered based on what we were given. And so that means that D is going to be our final answer to complete this example. I hope this made sense and let us know if you have any questions.

Besides the ability to move by amoeboid motion, what other physiological attributes contribute to the function of white blood cells in the body?

Key Concepts

Phagocytosis

Chemotaxis

Antigen Recognition and Immune Activation

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