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Your immune system is your body’s stealth defense system against viruses, bacteria and all those other nasty things which can make you sick. Your immune system is elaborate and very involved. The immune system never takes a holiday or coffee break. It is always working to protect you from illness. Your immune system is at work when you develop a fever, rash and even inflammation.
According to the Nemours Foundation, ʺthe immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body. The cells involved are white blood cells, or leukocytes, which come in two basic types that combine to seek out and destroy disease-causing organisms or substances.ʺ The Nemours’ Foundation website revealed the two basic types of leukocytes are:
• Lymphocytes. These cells allow the body to remember and recognize previous invaders and help the body destroy them
• Phagocytes. These cells chew up invading organisms
The lymphoid organs (bone marrow, the spleen and the thymus) all store and produce white blood cells or leukocytes. The lymph nodes also harbor white blood cells.
The white blood cells or leukocytes are the soldiers of your immune system. They are always marching through your body and monitoring your defense system for anything out of the ordinary.
ʺThe leukocytes circulate through the body between the organs and nodes via lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. In this way, the immune system works in a coordinated manner to monitor the body for germs or substances that might cause problems,ʺ said the Nemours’ website.
According to the Seattle Treatment Education Program, the following cells play a vital role in your immune system:
• B Cells or B lymphocytes
• Dendritic cells
• Granulocytes or Polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes
• Macrophages
• Natural killer cells (NK Cells)
• T-Cells or T lymphocytes
To see a more detailed description of the roles these cells play in your immune system go to the following link:
http://www.thebody.com/content/art1788.html/
According to the ʺHow Stuff Worksʺ website, here are a few examples of how our immune system works:
• The red annoying and itchy bump from a mosquito bite is a reflection of your immune system hard at work.
• Getting over the flu or a cold is a visible sign that your immune system was able to discharge the ʺbug.ʺ
• The effects of food poisoning, like vomiting and diarrhea, are normal signs of your immune system working to eliminate the bacteria or virus.
This week, EmpowHER.com will also be featuring additional stories on the immune system. Topics will include: innate immunity, immune and immunity.
References:
What is the Immune System. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Home Page. Retrieved December 26, 2011, from http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/immuneSystem/Pages/whatIsImmuneSystem.aspx
Brain, M. HowStuffWorks "How Your Immune System Works". HowStuffWorks "Science". Retrieved December 26, 2011, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/human-biology/immune-system1.htm
Immune System. KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health. Retrieved December 26, 2011, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/immune.html
Linnemeyer, P. A. The Immune System -- An Overview - The Body. The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource - The Body. Retrieved December 26, 2011, from http://www.thebody.com/content/art1788.html
The Immune System - Overview. Nobelprize.org. Retrieved December 26, 2011, from http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/immunity/immune-overview.html
Reviewed December 26, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
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