Diseases

1. Diseases

2. 3. Body DefensesSkin, Mucus, & White Blood Cells

3. There are bacteria and viruses all around you, yet you are healthy most of the time This is true because your body has ways to protect you

4. The body’s first line of defense is the skin The skin keeps bacteria and viruses from getting into the body

5. If you cut your skin, then bacteria and viruses can get into the body through the cut But your body can still defend itself by using its white blood cells

6. White blood cells are in your blood so is always moving throughout your body When you are cut, more white blood cells move to the area to destroy bacteria

7. Vocabulary: White blood cells A part of the blood that help the body fight germs that cause disease

8. When the white blood cells destroy the bacteria, the skin around the cut gets red There may be pus in the cut which is a sign that the white blood cells are working

9. Vocabulary: pus Whitish fluid that oozes from a wound that is made of dead bacteria and white blood cells

10. If you do cut yourself, try to keep bacteria from getting into your body Wash the area around the cut to get rid of the bacteria on your skin

11. If the cut is deep, see a doctor as you might need to have stitches to hold the cut together while it heals

12. Bacteria or viruses can get into your body when you breathe Your body has another way to defend you

13. Your nose and throat are lined with tissues that make a liquid called mucus Vocabulary: mucus A sticky liquid made in the tissues that line the nose and throat

14. The sticky mucus traps many bacteria and viruses Then the bacteria and viruses leave the body in a cough or a sneeze

15. The tissues in the nose and throat also have tiny hairs These hairs sweep mucus and particles up toward the mouth to be swallowed so no harm is done to the body