ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -The complement system is made up of a large number of distinct plasma proteins that react with one another to opsonize pathogens and induce a series of inflammatory responses that help to fight infection. A number of complement proteins are proteases that are themselves activated by proteolytic cleavage.

Detailed explanation-2: -The proteins of the complement system puncture the membranes of foreign cells, destroying the integrity of the pathogen. Destroying the membrane of foreign cells or pathogens weakens their ability to proliferate, and helps to stop the spread of infection.

Detailed explanation-3: -When pathogens are detected, a collection of signalling proteins known as ‘complement’ are activated and this process triggers the assembly of the MAC. The MAC is a huge pore made from a set of proteins that literally punches holes in the wall of bacteria to kill them.

Detailed explanation-4: -The end result of this complement activation or complement fixation cascade is stimulation of phagocytes to clear foreign and damaged material, inflammation to attract additional phagocytes, and activation of the cell-killing membrane attack complex.