The Way the Immune System Works Essay

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 plays a vital role in helping the body to fight diseases, as well as pathogens, the disease-causing factors. It is mainly composed of the tonsils and adenoids, the lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels, the spleen, appendix, and bone marrow. The main purpose of the immune system is to assist the body in its struggle to maintain optimal health.

Human beings are born with immunity as well as they acquire it from the environment they grow in. Human innate immunity is assigned the task to hinder the harmful substances from entering the body. These immunity barriers develop a defense line. The innate immunity includes cough, tear enzymes, mucus, skin and the stomach acid. Hence, the role of innate immune system is to stop harmful materials from entering our body. In case the innate immunity is insufficient to fight, there is acquired immunity that fights harmful substances by getting exposed to various antigens. The acquired immunity is developed against specific antigen. Its role is to fight

The human immune system creates a series of responses in the body to defend the body. If a foreign organism, such as a virus or a cold invades your body, it recognizes these foreign organisms, and, in turn, attacks them to get rid of them. One can think of the immune system as an army of many cells which have set up their own bastion in the human body. They have only one job: To defend. The immune system’s cells are various kinds of white blood cells. The human body typically creates about 1000 million white blood cells on a daily basis. A group of these cells, macrophages, establish a patrol of sorts throughout the body killing germs as soon as they enter the body. However, sometimes an infection can cause the macrophages to succumb to it. The body begins to fight back with stronger T- and B-cells.

This system is a part of your immune system, along with white blood cells, which is where Hodgkin’s lymphoma starts. Page 4 Lymph nodes are small organs sometimes described as “bean-like” and are located throughout the body in different areas. They are found in groups throughout the abdomen, groin, pelvis, underarms, and neck. In addition to those areas, the spleen is in the lymph system; which makes lymphocytes and filters blood. The thymus and the tonsils are also a part of the system.

The organs that make up the lymphatic and immune system are the tonsils, spleen, thymus gland, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels. White blood cells (leukocytes), red blood cells (erythrocytes), plasma, and platelets (thrombocytes) make up the blood. Lymphocytes are leukocytes (white blood cells) that help the body fight off diseases. Two types of lymphocytes are B cells and T cells. Lymphocytes recognize antigens, or foreign substances/matter, in the body. Lymphocytes are a classification of agranulocytes, or cells (-cytes) without (a-) granules (granul/o) in the cytoplasm. B cells are created from stem cells, which are located in the bone marrow. B cells respond to antigens by becoming plasma cells. These plasma cells then create antibodies. Memory B cells produce a stronger response with the next exposure to the antigen. B cells fight off infection and bacteria while T cells defend against viruses and cancer cells. A hormone created by the thymus gland called thymosin changes lymphocytes into T cells. The thymus gland is active when you are a child and slowly shrinks, as you get older. T cells bind to the antigens on the cells and directly attack them. T cells secrete lymphokines that increase T cell production and directly kill cells with antigens. There are three types of T cells: cytotoxic T cells, helper T cells, and memory T cells.

The lymphatic system are a complex network of specialised cells and organs that defend the body against infection. Lymphatic organs include the bone marrow, spleen, thymus gland, lymph nodes, tonsils, adenoids, appendix and clumps of tissue in the small bowel. A function of the lymphatic system is to nurture and mature the B and T-lymphocytes (white blood cells vital to immune function). Cancerous changes can take place

One of the most important organs of the lymphatic system within the body's blood filter process is the spleen. This organ does a variety of things to help keep healthy blood available to be shipped to the body for pathogen-fighting purposes. The spleen normally is about a fist size. The oval clump of blood vessels intertwined with strands of connective tissue is separated into two parts. The blood vessels that make up a large content of the spleen, are called splenic sinusoids. The organ is normally found in the left upper part of the abdomen, above the stomach, it is mostly protected by the lower ribs. This particular organ is a definite vital part in cleaning the body's blood supply. In most cases people can live without their spleen (Rettner, 2013). This of course comes with extra precautions to help fight infections but a normal life can exist. The dark purplish red mass helps to filter the blood through its many passageways of blood vessels and is soft in texture.

The lymphatic system plays an important part in the body’s defense against infection (Rockson, 2016).

Spleen is an important internal organ, an organ that is accountable for both the storage and purification of red blood cells. “The spleen serves a critical role in immune function because it purifies the blood and helps the immune system to recognize and attack foreign pathogens and allergens” (Healthline Medical Team, 2014). Spleen is located in the left side of the abdominal cavity between the stomach and diaphragm. In adulthood, the spleen is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. Blood, rather than lymph, flows through the spleen. Blood cleansed of microorganism in the spleen. The spleen store blood and destroy worn out red blood

The spleen is one of the biggest organs in the lymphatic system. It acts as a filter for the blood and helps to protect it. In humans it is found in the upper left part of the abdomen. It is about the size of a fist. The spleen is very important, however its very possible to live without.

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

Lymph nodes are much smaller than the spleen. The lymph nodes act as filters to cleanse lymph before it can return to the bloodstream. Each node is surrounded by a dense fibrous capsule. The spleen is the largest lymphoid organ. It functions to remove aged or no good blood, and pathogens from the bloodstream and can either store the breakdown products of RBC's or have them be processed by the function of the liver. The red pulp area contains RBC's and macrophages, whereas areas composed mostly of lymphocytes are the white pulp. The white pulp serves the immune functions of the organ. The spleen and lymph nodes are surrounded by a fibrous capsule, and has trabeculae. They both act as filters to remove unwanted products from the body. Macrophages

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell, which are an important part of the immune system. Lymphocytes can defend the body against infection because they can distinguish the body’s own cells from foreign ones. Once they recognize foreign material in the body, they produce chemicals to destroy that material. Two types of lymphocyte are produced in the bone marrow before birth.

Another type of cells that protect your body is the Phagocytes. Phagocytes are types of white blood cells that directly ingest the harmful pathogens through the process of phagocytosis. They bind to the pathogen and engulf it. When it engulfs the pathogen, Phagocytes keep the antigen so it can be presented to cells to make antibodies. (Kidshealth.org)