Innate and adaptive immunity
Mon, May 10, 2027 · Week 17 · Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems)
Today's goal: Students will distinguish innate from adaptive immunity using teacher notes and the PLTW online task.
What a finished product looks like
This is a model of the work you should turn in today. Use it to check your own: match the structure and the level of detail, do not copy it. Your data and wording should be your own.
My definitions (in my own words):
- Antigen: a molecule, often on the surface of a pathogen, that the immune system recognizes as foreign and responds to.
- Antibody: a Y-shaped protein made by B cells that binds to a specific antigen to neutralize or tag the pathogen.
- Lymphocyte: a white blood cell (B cell or T cell) that drives the adaptive, antigen-specific immune response.
Innate vs adaptive (one-line contrast): innate immunity is fast and non-specific (skin, mucus, phagocytes, inflammation); adaptive immunity is slower, highly specific, and builds memory for faster future responses.
My question about immune memory: How long do memory B cells survive after a single infection?
| Feature | Innate immunity | Adaptive immunity |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Fast (minutes to hours) | Slow on first exposure (days) |
| Specificity | Non-specific | Highly specific to antigen |
| Examples | Skin, mucus, phagocytes | B cells, T cells, antibodies |
| Memory | No lasting memory | Builds long-term memory |
Also due today: Submit the completed PLTW online immune-response task with your diagram and definitions.
WebXam problem for today's skill
One exam-style question that uses exactly what you practiced today. Try it before you reveal the answer, then read why each choice is right or wrong.
Tap an answer to see the full explanation. Nothing is recorded or graded.