Download The Immune System

The Immune System
By Luke Carter
Main Organs of the
Immune System:
Thymus
Spleen
Lymph Nodes
Bone Marrow
The main function of the immune system is to protect the body
from harmful pathogens.
It accomplishes this through a series of organs that kill any
harmful organisms within the body.
Without the immune system, the human body would be at
constant risk of disease and invasion by malevolent parasites.
Simple activities such as swimming in a lake, or playing in the
mud, would all become life-threatening without the immune
system.
The Thymus
The Thymus is an organ whose job is to produce cells to fight off
infection.
Its role in the process of creating these cells is to provide a place for
them to mature. The cells originate in the bone marrow and then
relocate to the thymus where they fully mature. After this, the cells
are sent throughout the body to fight infection.
Spleen
The spleen is an organ whose main functions are to filter used
blood and store cells that fight bacteria.
As blood travels through the spleen, used red blood cells are
filtered out. The spleen also helps store white blood cells that are
used for destroying harmful bacteria in the body. The spleen can be
removed and have the body continue to function. However, one’s
ability to fight infections will be slightly reduced if the spleen is not
present.
Lymph Nodes
The Lymph Nodes filter out any
microorganisms or other
substances picked up by the
lymphocytes, which are infection
fighting cells.
During an infection the lymph
nodes become noticeably swelled
and red. This is because during an
infection the need to filter lymph
becomes much more prevalent.
Due to their role in removing
outside organisms, the lymph
nodes are essential in protecting
the body from sickness.
Bone Marrow
The bone marrow produces many white blood cells whose job is to
destroy bacteria and other unwanted organisms within the body.
Because of this function, the immune system could not function
effectively without the bone marrow.
Work cited
Cover Image:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Immune+System&FORM=
HDRSC2#view=detail&id=68938ABF45C7FEC37DFEADC763DDE5F
3B5476169&selectedIndex=25
Thymus Image:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Thymus&FORM=HDRSC2#
view=detail&id=010B9AF56B7B8B9DCDF7376DEDE49EA83A36458
0&selectedIndex=2
Spleen Image:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=spleen&id=010B9AF56B7B
8B9DCDF74A42B68484E769CDE0A0&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail
&id=010B9AF56B7B8B9DCDF74A42B68484E769CDE0A0&selectedI
ndex=0
Work Cited continued
Lymph Nodes Image:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Lymph+Nodes&id=A25
771A7BF5CA0EDD6B6254A790CEB1505E99561&FORM=IQFRBA
#view=detail&id=A25771A7BF5CA0EDD6B6254A790CEB1505E
99561&selectedIndex=0
Bone Marrow Image
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bone+marrow&FORM=
HDRSC2#view=detail&id=76CE3D343FEF73278DF04280D8372
C611CA8EC49&selectedIndex=57