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    About the immune System

    The Immune System Inside Out

    The immune system works like a almighty shield around your body. Its work is essential and necessary yet we hardly notice it. Our whole immune system is a complex and highly organized system that protects our bodies from foreign entities like bacteria, viruses and poisons that seek to harm us. As long as we are alive our immune system will constantly work round the clock and only stops when we are dead. So what composes our immune system? And how exactly does it protect us?

    The Big Blanket

    Most of us, when asked about our immune system, would inevitably point out those minute cells inside us called antibodies, which act as little soldiers that are secreted into the blood and binds the outer coat of the virus or a bacterium that enters the body. However, there are main components of the immune system. The the bulk obvious component is the skin, the largest organ of the body and the one responsible for touch and feeling sensations. However the skin’s function is more than just sensory, it provides a protective barrier around the body and is generally difficult to enter with viruses and bacteria.

    Also, the skin contains Langerhan cells that act as an early warning device because it sends out signals to warn the body and at the same time mount a defense. These cells catch an antigen and carry them to the lymph node. The skin also filters poisons from the body via fever.

    Our nose hairs are responsible for filtering foreign particles from entering the body via our nose. They also secrete an antibacterial mucous membrane that breaks down the bacterium’s cell wall. Tonsils are also known to prevent respiratory diseases and saliva also has qualities similar to mucus.

    Inside the body an invading entity must face an array of other defenses such as the thymus glands, lymph system, bone marrow, white blood cells, hormones and tonsils.

    Thymus Gland

    The thymus gland is a ductless gland located at the upper portion of the chest cavity that produces the T – cells for immune responses. A T – cell is a lymphocyte that acts like a soldier that searches and destroys pathogens. They take over body cells that have become injurious or cancerous and destroy them. There are a lot kinds of T – cells in the body such as helper, cytotoxic, memory, and regulatory and natural killer T cells.

    Lymph System

    Tissues that are known to be structurally distinct compose the lymph system. This system gives vertebrates such as humans a wonderful immune system. It can also aid filter cell and foreign debris in the blood and destroys them. The lymph system produces lymphocytes, which are circulated all over the body in the blood as well as lymph vessels.

    The lymph vessels are a network of capillaries that contain a clear and colorless fluid called lymph. The lymph or lymphatic fluid transports nutrients to tissues and collects wastes from these tissues. When fighting bacteria the lymph nodes actually swell. At some point this becomes so obvious and is a telltale sign that your body is fighting an infection.

    Bone Marrow

    The bone marrow is known as the medulla ossea. It is responsible for producing new blood cells. The bone marrow also has two types. These are the red marrow, also called the myeloid tissue, and the yellow marrow. The red marrow develops red blood cells, platelets and the bulk of our white blood cells. The yellow marrow is mostly fat but when required can revert back into red marrow that produces blood cells.

    White Blood Cells

    White blood cells or leukocytes defend the body against foreign organisms. They are almost colorless, are considerably larger than red cells, have a nucleus and are much less numerous, only one or two existing for every 1000 red cells. This number enhances in the presence of infection.

    There are three types: granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Granulocytes account for 70 percent of all white cells, include neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils. They are primarily formed in the bone marrow.

    A lymphocyte is a type of leukocyte that is responsible for triggering immune responses. They are formed primarily in the spleen. Lymphocytes have two types: the B–cell and the T–cell. The B–cells attack bacterial poisons unlike that of the T–cells.

    Complement System

    The complement system is a protein series found in blood that works to kill pathogens by irritating an invading cell’s plasma membrane. The complement system belongs to the innate immune system because it does not adapt and does alteration over a person’s lifetime. These proteins work in conjunction with antibodies hence the name complement.

    Hormones

    It is known that some hormones either curb the immune system or encourage the production of lymphocytes. Hormones being secreted into the immune system are called lymphokines.

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