What is the immune system
An immune system is a system that protects humans from invaders such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins. The main parts of the immune system are white blood cells, antibodies, the complement system, the lymphatic system, the spleen, the thymus, and the bone marrow. These components fight infections.
The main parts of the immune system
White blood cells are the cells that are produced in the human bone marrow and are part of the lymphatic system which plays a vital role in the human immune system. White blood cells include lymphocytes (like B-cells, T-cells, and natural killer cells), and many other kinds of immune cells. These blood cells move through the blood and the tissue throughout the human body seeking for microbes (outside invaders) like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi.
Antibodies are the components that help to fight microbes. They have the ability to recognize antigens and mark them as foreign microbes or toxins that should be destroyed.
The complement system is the system made up of proteins that function in tandem with antibodies to complete the task.
The lymphatic system is a complex system of tubes that run throughout the body. The main tasks of the lymphatic system are to control the body's fluid levels, have a response to bacteria, take care of cancer cells, deal with cell products that may otherwise cause illness or dysfunction, and absorb some of the fats from the intestine. The lymphatic system is composed of lymph nodes (lymph glands) that captures microbes, lymph tubes, which transport lymph, a colorless fluid that bathes your body's tissues and includes infection-fighting white blood cells, and white blood cells (lymphocytes).
The spleen is the organ that filters microbes from the bloodstream and eliminates old or damaged red blood cells. It also produces immune system components that combat sickness (including antibodies and lymphocytes).
Bone marrow is the spongy tissue that is inside a human’s bone that produces red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body, the white blood cells that fight infections, and the platelets that help the blood clot.
The thymus filters and monitors the contents of your blood. T-lymphocytes are white blood cells produced by this organ.
How does the immune system work?
When the body detects foreign substances (known as antigens), the immune system strives to identify and eliminate the antigens. Antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) are produced when B lymphocytes are activated. These proteins bind to antigens that are particular to them. Antibodies normally persist in our systems once they're generated in case we have to battle the same infection again. That's why a person who contracts an illness, such as chickenpox, is unlikely to get it again because of this reason.
This mechanism is also identical to the concept of immunization (vaccination). Immunization is a method of exposing the body to an antigen without making it sick. However, it still allows the body to produce antibodies that will defend the person from future germ attacks. For example, when humans are vaccinated, it means that they are introducing antigen in their bodies in a way that doesn’t make them sick.
Antibodies can identify and lock onto an antigen, but they can't kill it on their own. T cells are in charge of this. They annihilate the antigens that have been marked by antibodies, as well as contaminated or altered cells. T cells also assist in the signaling of other cells (such as phagocytes) to perform their functions.
However, sometimes, the immune system mistakenly identifies the body's own cells as antigens. It then assaults the body's healthy, non-harmful cells. This is referred to as an autoimmune reaction.
Types of the immune system
There are two types of immune systems. One is the innate immune system and the other one is the adaptive immune system. The innate immune system is the one that human naturally obtains since birth and the adaptive immune system is the system that develops as the human body is exposed to microbes or chemicals released by microbes.
The innate system is the system that is passed down from generation to generation and is active from the minute your child is born. The innate immune system provides a broad defense against pathogens and other hazardous chemicals. Immune cells such as natural killer cells and phagocytes are used to fight. The innate immune system’s primary function is to fight against harmful substances that enter the body through the skin or digestive tract.
The adaptive immune system, the system that develops as the human body is exposed to antigens. While the innate system is to have protection against the general defense, the adaptive immune system produces antibodies by B lymphocytes for the specific antigens that the body has already encountered.
Comments