36 terms
5th Grade: PLTW Infection Detection
Adenoids
Lymph glands located behind the nose which help filter viruses and bacteria that enter through the mouth and nose.
Bacteria
Tiny, one-celled organisms that get nutrients from their environment in order to live.
Basophil
A type of white blood cell that is present when the body is inflamed (like when you sprain an ankle).
Bone Marrow
The tissue found inside your bones that is responsible for making blood cells, including white blood cells.
Cilia
Short, thin hairs located inside the nose and ears that capture and try to push out things the body does not want.
Communicable Disease
An infectious disease that can be spread from person to person or from an animal to a person. The spread can occur by direct or indirect contact with an affected individual.
Constraint
A limitation or a restriction such as time, materials, or size.
Contagious
When a person can spread their infection to someone else. Also called infectious.
Control Group
The group in an experiment whose purpose is to be used for comparison.
Criteria
Guidelines or rules used to judge or make a decision about something.
Decomposer
Organisms that break down dead or decaying material.
Eosinophil
A type of white blood cell that fights infections from allergies and parasites.
Eustachian Tube
A tube that runs between the inside of the ear and the throat. Its job is to make sure the pressure is the same on either side of the eardrum.
Experiment
A scientific test in which you perform a series of actions in order to learn information about the world around you.
Fever
An important immune response, a rise in body temperature that helps kill off unwanted bugs or bacteria.
Germ
A microorganism that can make a person sick. The four major types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
Immune System
The system in the body responsible for identifying and fighting off unwanted bacteria, viruses, and other bugs.
Infection
When germs get inside your body, multiply, and make you sick.
Liver
An organ that helps filter germs and detoxify poisons.
Lymph
Fluid that flows through the lymphatic system from the tissues to the blood.
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system has two important jobs. First, it makes sure the fluids in the body are balanced, and second, it aids the immune system in defending against invading bacteria and viruses.
Lymphocyte
A type of white blood cell that helps protect the body again sickness. The lymphocyte has many jobs, but one of them is to help the neutrophils fight viruses.
Macrophage
A type of white blood cell that moves quickly to grab, suck in, and kill any unwanted invasive material in the body.
Microorganism
Very small organism, such as a bacterium, that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Mucus
A sticky, gooey substance found in the nose and other parts of the body that traps bacteria and pushes it out of the body.
Neutrophil
A type of white blood cell that fights off viral infections, often one of the first at the scene of an infection.
Non-communicable Disease
A disease that cannot be spread from person to person.
Pathogenic
Disease causing.
Protocol
Step by step instructions.
Scientific Inquiry Process
A process that scientists use to explore observations and answer questions.
Scientist
A person who asks questions, makes observations, and investigates ideas in order to acquire knowledge and/or solve problems.
Spleen
An organ located on the left side of your abdominal area near your stomach. It is about the size of your fist and has many jobs, one of which is to assist the immune system by producing some of the white blood cells.
Thymus
An organ found just below your neck that produces some of your white blood cells.
Tonsils
Lymph glands located in the throat that help filter viruses and bacteria that enter through the mouth and nose.
Virus
Infectious nonliving agents much smaller than bacteria that invade cells and cause diseases such as the common cold and measles.
White Blood Cell (also called leukocyte)
A type of blood cell that is part of the immune system; its job is to help protect the body against sickness. There are several types of white blood cells, such as eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils, all of which have unique, specific jobs.