Download Immune System Period 1 - Mercer Island School District

Immune System
Period 1
By: Seth, Charlie and Nikhil
Your presentation should include:
The main function(s) of the body system
The main organs (or cell types) of this system and the function of each part
At least one example of how this system helps to maintain homeostasis in the body
Explanation of how the system works with other systems (some specified below)
A description of at least 2 disorders/diseases that can affect this system. Describe how a
vaccine works
Functions of the different types of white blood cells and proteins involved in immunity
Innate vs. Acquired (Adaptive) Immunity
At least one immune system disease given should be an autoimmune disorder (include
definition of autoimmune disorder).
Main Functions
-The main function of the Immune system is to protect the body from pathogens and
infections. (A pathogen is a disease-causing microorganism)
Organs involved
- Lymph Nodes: Produce and store white blood cells
- Spleen: Contains white blood cells to fight infection.
- Bone Marrow: Produces white blood cells
- Lymphocytes: B and T cells that
- Thymus: Where T-cells mature
- Leukocytes: Identify and eliminate pathogens
Interactions with other systems
The immune system is like a small police force that constantly patrols every organ
and tissue in your body. It works closely with the circulatory system for
transportation needs and the lymphatic system for production of lymphocytes.
Innate vs Acquired immunity
Innate Immunity- Immunity to a disease without undergoing an immune response.
This immunity is passed on from parents to children.
Acquired Immunity- Immunity to a disease that is created after a specific pathogen
has infected the body once. This kind of immunity is a reaction so a pathogen can be
dealt with easily the next time it enters the body. This is why people can't catch the
same disease twice. (The cold and the flu mutate rapidly and if you catch the flu
multiple times, you are infected by a different mutation of the same virus.)
Vaccines
Vaccines are artificial ways to create an acquired
immunity. A vaccine introduces small amounts of
pathogens to the body (alive or dead depending on
the type of vaccine). When the pathogen is
introduced, the immune system can quickly and
easily destroy the pathogen. But the immune
system also remembers the pathogen and it uses
memory B cells so it can destroy the pathogen
even more quickly and easily the next time it
enters the body.
Diseases: Leukemia
A disease in the bone marrow
that causes the marrow to not
function properly. Leukemia
causes the bone marrow to
produce white blood cells that
can't develop, preventing them
from fighting infections. Then
the bone marrow produces more
and more white blood cells in an
effort to replace the defective
cells. But this attempt to help
only hurts the body, it uses up
lots of extra energy with zero
results, depriving the body of the
energy it needs to fight the
disease.
Diseases: HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a disease that targets the cells of the immune
system. It takes over the T cells and uses them for reproduction. This creates more
viruses and destroys the cells fighting them. HIV is not deadly on its own, but it
leaves the body wide open to a fatal attack from some of the most harmless
diseases.