innate immunity
Natural-born body protection
Innate immunity is the body's first line of defense against pathogens—the immune responses you're born with rather than those acquired through exposure or vaccination.
It includes physical barriers like skin, inflammatory responses, and cells that attack invaders without needing to recognize specific threats: The innate immune system responds within hours of infection.
Cells that engulf debris
- macrophagesLarge pathogen-engulfing immune cells
- neutrophilsPathogen-engulfing white blood cells
- toll-like receptorsInnate immune pattern sensors
- interferonsAntiviral signaling proteins
cytokines · inflammation · fever · leukocytes · basophils · eosinophils · phagocytosis
Body's outer layer
- mucous membranesSlick tissue lining cavities
- epitheliumTissue covering body surfaces
- stomach acidDigestive fluid in belly
- salivaMouth's digestive secretion
tears · mucus · cilia · microbiome · sebum · sweat · cerumen · respiratory tract
Not clearly defined
- rapidMoving with haste
- immediateHappening without delay
- first-lineTried before alternatives
- evolutionaryPertaining to gradual biological change
conserved · broad-spectrum · inherited · constitutive · sentinel · primitive · universal
phagocytes
Cells that engulf debris
- macrophagesLarge pathogen-engulfing immune cells
- neutrophilsPathogen-engulfing white blood cells
- toll-like receptorsInnate immune pattern sensors
interferons · cytokines · inflammation · fever · leukocytes · basophils · eosinophils · phagocytosis
skin
Body's outer layer
- mucous membranesSlick tissue lining cavities
- epitheliumTissue covering body surfaces
- stomach acidDigestive fluid in belly
saliva · tears · mucus · cilia · microbiome · sebum · sweat · cerumen · respiratory tract · gastrointestinal tract
non-specific
Not clearly defined
- rapidMoving with haste
- immediateHappening without delay
- first-lineTried before alternatives
evolutionary · conserved · broad-spectrum · inherited · constitutive · sentinel · primitive · universal
innate immunitysusceptibility
Liability to influence
vulnerability · immunodeficiency · immune deficiency · immunocompromise · defenselessness
inherent, innate, intuition, immunity, intuitive, inborn, inbred, immunize, intuitively