The Main Functions Of The Immune System

The immune system is made up of several types of cells that work together to fight infections. Lymph cells (called lymphocytes) are the main type of cell in the adaptive immune system. There are 2 types of lymph cells: T cells and B cells. When B cells respond to an infection, they change into plasma cells. The plasma cells are found mainly in the bone marrow—the soft, inner part of some bones. The plasma cells

The immune system depends on the body’s structures to help it function. For instance, the skin acts as the “body’s first line of defense.” If a pathogen finds a breach in the skin barrier, it is the circulatory system that must now signal the immune system of the invader. Shortly after, white blood cells will be notified of the infection and will target and destroy the pathogen.

The innate immune system is effective to a certain degree. That said, if the environment is regulated then the body is less likely to get ill. Innate immunity is effective as once the patient matures his immune system will mature due to the B and T memory cells. The memory cells will help the body prepare for the virus once it has arrived. The memory cells will send specialised lymph nodes to the invading pathogen. The B and T memory cells are key to immunity of a virus.

Innate immunity refers to nonspecific defense mechanisms that come into play immediately or within hours of an antigen's appearance in the body. Adaptive immunity refers to antigen-specific immune response.

The body’s protection against viruses, bacteria and other types of invasions is our immune system (Tortora, 2014).

a. This function is mediated by T cells and B cells (memory cells) in our body via adaptive immunity. The adaptive immune system evolved in early vertebrates and allows for a stronger immune response as well as immunological memory, where each pathogen is “remembered” by a signature antigen. The adaptive immune response is antigen-specific and requires the recognition of specific “non-self” antigens during a process called antigen presentation. Antigen specificity allows for the generation of responses that are tailored to specific pathogens or pathogen-infected cells. The ability to mount these tailored responses is maintained in the body by memory cells. Should a pathogen infect the body more than once, these specific memory cells are used to quickly eliminate it. So basically killer T cells will identify antigens present on foreign cells. These antigens are not found in any of the cells inside our body. Therefore, T cells will identify them and kill them.

Innate Immune System – Nonspecific and abrupt first response; comprised of epithelial surfaces (physical barriers), neutrophils, and macrophages.

Defense mechanisms are said to be specific because depending on which one they focus on one specific part of the body or a specific type of pathogen.

The immune system is made up of trillions of specialised cells (white blood cells) that detect and destroy pathogens or their toxins. Some white blood cells, which are

The immune system consists of a defense system that guards the body against invasion from infections and other diseases. Normally, a healthy person's immune system has the capability to differentiate between its own cells and cells that represent threats to the health of the body. (Craft and Kanter, 2002). Autoimmune disease refers to a broad range of over 80 acute, long-lasting diseases that affect nearly every organ in the body. (Wrong Diagnosis.com, 2000).

The immune response is made up of first, second, and third line defenses. The first two defenses are considered innate responses. These responses are non-specific and typically in place at birth. The first line of defense against pathogens includes the skin and mucous membranes. If a pathogen makes it past these defenses the second and third line of defense step in. The second line of defense includes phagocytes, fever, natural killer cells, inflammation, and antimicrobial proteins. In many cases these first two layers of innate defense are enough to ward off infection.

The body has two immune systems: the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system.

The immune system is comprised of two responses: the adaptive immune response and the innate immune response. The first line of defence against invading organisms is classified as the innate immune response and the second line of defence and protection against re- exposure to the same pathogen is known as the adaptive immune response.

Have you ever wondered how your body works? Did you ever think about how your body defends itself from outside invaders? Remember the last time you were sick. Did you know how your body fought and killed the sickness? All these questions can be answered by learning about one of the most important systems in your body, the immune system.

Our immune system is the second most complex system in our body. It is made up of organs, cells and proteins that work together to protect our bodies from harmful bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms that can cause diseases. Usually we don’t notice our immune system defending us against pathogens, but if the pathogen (harmful microorganism) is aggressive or if our body hasn’t ever come into contact with it, we can get sick. The jobs of our immune system are to recognise pathogens, as well as neutralise and remove them from our body. Our immune system also has to fight our own cells if they have changed due to an illness, for example, cancer. (1)