Irritation

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/irritation

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary mechanism?Inflammation or painful reaction due to cell-lining damage or allergic response
2. What is the role of mucosal membranes?Highly susceptible to irritation due to mucus trapping allergens and foreign particles
3. What causes skin to itch or become red?When something hurts the skin, like a chemical, a scratch, or the sun, cells release chemicals that make the skin feel itchy or red.
4. Why do my eyes water when I get irritated?Irritated eye tissues release chemicals that make the eye produce more tears to wash away the irritant.

Inflammation: A complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain.
Allergen: A substance that causes an allergic reaction, often by triggering an immune system response.
Cytokines: Small proteins secreted by cells that act as signaling molecules in immune responses and inflammation.
Epithelial tissues: Tissues that line the surfaces of the body, both externally and internally, forming a protective barrier.