While hiking, you must push aside thick branches that are near your face. One of them rips the skin on your arm and you begin to bleed from the cut. Which of the following plays an important role in initially protecting you from infection?

A. nonspecific antibodies

B. memory cells because they are part of the adaptive immune system

C. increased production of certain hormones and changes in microcirculation

D. barriers such as dead skin cells and mucus because they are part of the innate immune system

While hiking, you must push aside thick branches that are near your face. One of them rips the skin on your arm and you begin to bleed from the cut. Which of the following plays an important role in initially protecting you from infection?

The answer to the question is option D (barriers such as dead skin cells and mucus because they are part of the innate immune system)

Explanation:

Hiking which is a way to stay physically active can simply be explained as an engage in a leisure-like activity, to walk a long distance or for exercise.

Innate immunity is one of the two main immunity strategies found in vertebrates, is composed of physical, chemical and cellular defenses against pathogens, such as skin, chemicals in the blood, and immune system cells that attack foreign cells in the body immediately or within hours of an antigen's appearance in the body.

The innate immune system relies on the recognition of particular types of molecules that are common to many pathogens but are absent in the host.

Innate immunity, is something already present in the body which is activated against a specific type of antigen, and the immunity remains throughout the life.

An example of Innate immunity, is the white blood cells fighting bacteria.

Innate Immunity action is usually rapid, and the first line of defense against non-self pathogens is the innate immune response.

Innate type of immunity is generally inherited from parents and passed to offspring.

The main purpose of the innate immune response is to immediately prevent the spread and movement of foreign pathogens throughout the body.

Therefore, during the first critical hours and days of exposure to a new pathogen, the body rely on the innate immune system to protect it from infection.

The skin and other epithelial surfaces, provide a physical barrier between the inside of the body and the outside world.

The mucus layer also contains substances that kill pathogens or inhibit their growth.

Microorganisms do occasionally breach the epithelial barricades. It is then the innate immune system that recognizes and destroy them, without harming the host.