What is the Immune System?

The immune system is what protects your body from foreign invaders. Your immune system protects you from germs (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) and toxins. The immune system is made of cells, organs, and proteins that work together to fight the intruders. There are two main parts of the immune system, the innate and the adaptive. You are born with the innate immune system, on the other hand, the adaptive immune system develops as you are exposed to invaders throughout your lifetime. These two parts work together to protect you.

Innate Immune System

The innate immune system is the first response to any invader. It is made up of the skin, the eye’s cornea, and the mucous membrane. These body parts create physical barriers that prevent harmful germs, parasites, and cells from getting into your body. You inherit the innate immune system from your parents, and it is active since the moment you were born. Once an invader is located, it is covered and killed by the body immune system cells called phagocytes.

Adaptive immune System

With the help of the innate immune system, the adaptive immune system creates antibodies that targets specific invaders. The antibodies are developed by B lymphocytes after the body has been exposed to the invader. The antibodies can take several days to be formed, but once created they will stay in your body forever. This part of the immune system is constantly changing as you are exposed to new diseases and substances. After the first exposure the adaptive immune system will act quickly to kill the invader by sending the previously created antibodies to attack it. For more information about your immune system visit this website below:

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P01665

Immune System Disorders

As much as your immune system helps you against invaders, when it does not work as it should, it is called an immune system disorder. There are multiple ways this can come to happen. The first way is if you are born with a weak immune system. This is called primary immune deficiency. Another way is if a disease weakens your immune system enough to cause problems. This is called acquired immune deficiency. The other two ways is if your immune system is too active or if it works against you.

Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases

Genetics play a major role in your immune system. If you are born with certain genes, it can cause to attack substances that are normally harmless. These substances are called allergens. The cause of your immune system working too much is allergies. Allergies can be affected by environmental factors. Autoimmune diseases is when your immune system target healthy cells. The cause is unknown, but is speculated to be due to genetics or something in the environment triggering that reaction. For more information about immune system disorders visit the website below:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/disorders-of-the-immune-system