WRITING ASSIGNMENT: PLEASE EXPLAIN IN TWO PARAGRAPHS WHAT ARE THE BODY'S DEFENSES AGAINST PATHOGENS.

The body's most important nonspecific defense is the skin, which acts as a physical barrier to keep pathogens out. Even openings in the skin (such as the mouth and eyes) are protected by saliva, mucus, and tears, which contain an enzyme that breaks down bacterial cell walls.

Natural barriers include the skin, mucous membranes, tears, earwax, mucus, and stomach acid. Also, the normal flow of urine washes out microorganisms that enter the urinary tract. The immune system uses white blood cells and antibodies to identify and eliminate organisms that get through the body's natural barriers.