The human body is very sensitive. It is sensitive to different kinds of diseases. These diseases can be very mild from motion sickness to simple colds and even cancers. The body needs special attention when it comes to preventing these diseases.
In earlier days it was thought that a person falls sick when God would not like him.
Later on, Hippocrates and other known physicians and scientists made it clear about illness and health. They said that a disease can be an outcome of bodily fluids changes. It can be a result of interference from outsiders i.e. germs. This description leads to a new pathway of research. That research is to know about disease and health. For example, how a person gets sick and why he becomes healthy even without medication.
To answer the questions related to health and sickness, the immune system was studied deeply.
Immune system
The immune system is well-made and complex. This system includes white blood cells, lymph nodes, multiple organs, fluids, and chemicals. These components are well associated. Its few components are fast and more active than other ones. Every component works as per directions.
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| The immune system has highly complex firewalls! |
When an immune system is working actively and is in an optimal state, it works efficiently. It can differentiate between foreign and local matters. It gets to recognize which matter is unsafe for the body.
After identifying the invaders, it prepares its components according to the nature of the invaders. Its parts are well-skilled. They work against microbes and antigens.
There are two main types of immune systems and the immunity generated by that systems:
Innate system
Adaptive system
Innate immune system
The innate immune system works actively with fast speed. It is fast-acting and produces an active response. It is present in a body from the beginning (birth time). It works in a nonspecific manner.
It works actively every time a microbe enters. Sometimes it is weaker than the invader. If innate immunity doesn’t cope, then the immune system shifts its response from innate to adaptive type.
For example, if an antigen or microbe enters in body, an innate immune response would be the first to detect it and work on it. It does not contain any memory of attacking foreign invaders.
Adaptive immune system
The adaptive immune system is more systemic and organized. It is not present at birth hence it is not hereditary. It is specific and works against a specific type of invader. It is specialized for having a memory of pathogens, it encounters.
It keeps the whole record of a pathogen. It reminds me that how a microbe was entered, how it was engulfed by the immune cells, and how its cell components were broken.
The next time when that microbe enters the body, the already existing memory, and immunity readily attack it keeping the body safe.
Adaptive immune response and its memory are the base of successful vaccine response against multiple pathogens.
How do both immune systems work?
The main difference between innate and adaptive immune responses is the speed and specificity of both systems. Adaptive immunity is not hereditary and it develops with time.
The first difference lies In the speed of activity. The speed of both types of immune systems is variable. The second difference between both systems is specificity.
The innate response is always active and is the first line of defense. The innate immune system contains no memory. The adaptive system tends to be more active against specific pathogens.
Sometimes the innate immune system is no longer capable of protecting the human body from invaders. It then sends signals to cells in the adaptive immune system. After that adaptive immune system is activated vigorously and keeps the body away from infections.
Components of the immune system
The immune system works actively and passively to protect the human body against all types of foreign invaders. Those can be viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc.
Following is the list of important components of the immune system,
- Skin cells and mucus membranes
- White blood cells
- Lymph nodes
- Tonsils and adenoids
- Spleen
- Bone marrow
- Thymus
- Stomach and bowel
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| Taking care of immunity is to aim for living healthily! |
Skin cells and mucus membranes
Skin is the largest organ of the body. It is meant for providing the first line of defense against invaders. Skin covers the whole body. It keeps the microbes away from entering the body. Skin produces oils and different secretions that contain components of the immune system.
Respiratory, urinary, digestive, and reproductive tracts are sensitive and highly prone to infections. To keep them protected, the immune system has a network of mucus membranes. It covers all these systems and traps the pathogens before they can enter this system and cause infection.
All microbes are trapped in these mucus cell lines due to stickiness.
Enzymes with anti-microbes capabilities are found in these secretions. These secretions keep the organs hydrated as dryness and bruised skin can also favor pathogen entry. These simple-natured skin cells and mucus cell lines are the first barrier to keeping the body safe.
White blood cells
White blood cells are the most important and strongly fighting components of the immune system. They are more specifically related to adaptive immunity. There are multiple types of WBCs. All white blood cells are specialized in providing protection. They work as guards of the body. They try to catch the pathogens whenever a pathogen tries to enter the body.
White blood cells are also called B and T cells. They are known for having memory against pathogens. They are circulated throughout the body and serve as a surveillance cameras of the body. Every white blood cell works in a specialized way. All WBCs target a certain type of pathogen. They specialized in producing antibodies that are specific for antigens.
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| Blood cells are the body's arsenals. |
Lymph nodes
The human body has a complex network of lymph nodes known as the lymphatic system. These are like small glands. They act as filters that stain every substance that is supposed to be an outsider for complex microbes. They are activated to engulf the microbes. When the specific composition of microbes is exposed, lymph nodes send signals to white blood cells.
After receiving signals, the adaptive immune response is activated and it keeps the body protected from illness. Lymph nodes are found throughout the body. They are especially present in the neck, armpits, groin, etc. During the inflammatory phase, lymph nodes become swollen as they are fighting off the pathogens.
Spleen
The spleen is supposed to be a storage house for blood cells whether they are white blood cells or red blood cells. Red blood cells that are damaged and impaired are filtered. White blood cells are stored in the spleen and are released when they receive signals.
Tonsils and adenoids
The most sensitive part of the body is the respiratory tract. It is always exposed to attack due to its structure. i.e. open nostrils and mouth. To protect these parts, tonsils are present in the nose and throat. These tonsils and adenoids are soft structures and important for providing immunity to the respiratory tract.
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is one of the main components of the immune system. It is found in bones. It serves as a house for stem cells. Different kinds of blood cells are produced by stem cells. Bone marrow works actively. It releases approximately a billion cells into the bloodstream.
Thymus
The memory cells of the immune system are produced in an organ known as the Thymus.
The body is kept protected from foreign invaders with the help of antibodies produced by T cells. T cells are produced in the thymus and they contain memory. Memory is their specialty. The location of the thymus is in the upper chest.
Stomach and bowel
Bowl moments are necessary for keeping the bad germs from the body. Moreover, the stomach has a specific kind of acid that works against bad bacteria. The pH of the stomach keeps a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria.
Bottom line
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| Be attentive when your body is calling you! |
Nature is very kind to us. If the human body is susceptible to attacks by microbes, the immune system is all set to protect it at every level. This network is so wide-ranging.
It ranges from catalytic enzymes in tear, saliva, and mucus membranes to highly specific white blood cells. Their activity against these pathogens is also well-skilled. All the health maintenance credit goes to the immune system. It keeps a person away from disease and sickness.
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