What are the two groups of defense mechanisms of the body against foreign or harmful agents? What is the difference between them?
The body has many defense mechanisms against foreign pathogenic agents. These mechanisms are divided into two groups: the specific mechanisms and the unspecific mechanisms. The specific mechanisms are part of the immune system and comprehend the humoral immune response and the cellular immune response that respectively produce antibodies and defense cells against specific antigens. The unspecific mechanisms fight in a general manner any type of antigen (they do not have specificity) and in them a series of defense means are included, like the skin barrier against foreign agents, the mucous and ciliated epithelium of the airway, inflammation (the inflammatory response) and the action of unspecific proteins and defense cells (e.g., interferons and macrophages).
