Abstract
The body as a whole is built to defend itself against a potentially hostile environment. The specific features in the environment that are potential threats to the body’s integrity may be mechanical, chemical, or biologic in nature. This chapter describes the most important defense mechanisms that protect against various insults including those which originate from the body itself. Situations that occur frequently in intensive care units when these mechanisms fail or are compromised are also described.
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© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Kueppers, F. (2002). Host Defenses. In: Criner, G.J., D’Alonzo, G.E. (eds) Critical Care Study Guide. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3927-5_33
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3927-5_33
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-95164-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-3927-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive