Download The Immune System

The Immune System
By: Elizabeth Reed, David
Chavez, and Kharletha Williams
Introduction

The immune system is the body's defense
against infectious organisms and other
invaders. Through a series of steps called
the immune response, the immune system
attacks organisms and substances that
invade body systems and cause disease.
What happens in the immune
system?

The immune
system is made
out of various
cells that control
the protection of
the body. Some
devour antigens,
some just figure
out what they are,
and some cells
act as stations to
tell the fighter
cells where the
antigen is.
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T cell
T Cells:
The T cell is a lymphocyte
cell that fights off
pathogens. But, the T cell
has to be activated. When
a diseased cell crosses the
path of a T cell, the cell is
activated and begins to
fight off the pathogen that
killed the cell. T cells are
covered in receptor
proteins that show the cell
what pathogen to
“swallow”. Also, a T cell
can’t attack any virus. The
proteins show the cell
which one to kill.
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B cells:
Memory B cells remember what
pathogens they have fought and
fight them quicker the next time. B
cells also fight off antigens. B cells
and T cells are also called
lymphocytes. B cells are best
known for making antibodies,
which attach themselves to
pathogens to mark them for other
immune system cells to kill.
Like Tree cutting
White Blood
cell
B cell
What is the purpose of the immune
system?


The purpose of the
immune system is to
keep out infectious
organisms (viruses,
certain bacteria,
fungi, etc.) that could
invade the body.
But, some pathogens
make it into the body.
Most of them are
devoured or
destroyed before
they can do much
harm.
B cell
Pathogen
How does the immune system
work?

antibodies
The immune
system is a
complex
system of
many cells and
organs where
the cells
mature and
travel through.
These cells
and organs are
what make the
immune
system work.
• T CELLS have t cell receptors which helps
the cell tell what pathogen it needs to kill.
They also interact with MHC. MHC is a
protein that resides on all cells and when
that cell is attacked, the MHC attaches
itself to a part of the pathogen and show it
on the outside. So, if a T cell wanders by, it
will realize that there is a pathogen inside T cell
the cell. But, for the T cell to react, one of receptor
its receptors has to find a match with one
on the infected cell.
• B CELLS make antibodies that attach
themselves to pathogens to show T cells
and other immune system cells which
pathogen to kill.
• Immune system organs, such as the
thymus and bone marrow are the source of
immune cell maturity.
Where is it located?
The immune system is located all
over the body. The immune system
organs help transport and allow the
cells in the immune system to grow.
Here are some of the immune
system organs:
•
Adenoids (help filter out harmful
microorganisms that can cause
infection)
•
Tonsils (Two masses of tissue
on either side of the throat)
•
Thymus (an area where some
types of immune cells mature.
The thymus also grows smaller
as we get older.)
•
Spleen (filters out harmful
substances from the blood and
produces white blood cells.)
•
Peyer’s patches ( they destroy
bacteria like the tonsils)
•
•
•
•
Bone marrow (a soft tissue filling the
cavities of bones.)
Appendix (the appendix protects the “good
germs” in the digestive system from immune
system patrollers.)
Lymphatic vessels ( lymphatic vessels
provide transportation for maturing cells
trying to reach the thymus.)
Lymph nodes (Small, rounded structures
along the small vessels of the lymphatic
system that produce disease-fighting white
blood cells and filter out harmful
microorganisms and toxins from the lymph).
How do you keep your immune
system healthy?
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
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
There are three ways to keep your immune system healthy. They
are:
Don’t eat sugar or grains. ( sugar immediately decreases the
strength of your immune system)
Get 6 or more hours of sleep.( for kids, the amount of hours should
be higher because of development. Sleep is also necessary
because when you sleep, your body goes in to a restful state where
the immune system can work more effectively.)
In my opinion, the best way to keep your immune system strong is to
fight through your colds and flues! When you go to the doctor, they
give an antibiotic(most of the time) that defeats the purpose of the
immune system altogether. In return, the next time the bug comes
around, your sickness could get worse because your immune
system wasn’t prepared.
What threatens the immune
system?
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
•
•
•
•
•
As I said in the slide previous to this, antibiotics can be bad for you. They help
weaken the immune system after that specific virus has been terminated.
Some sicknesses of the immune system include:
Allergy and asthma - inappropriate immune responses to substances that are usually
harmless
Graft-vs.-host disease - a life-threatening reaction in people receiving organ
transplants
Immune deficiency diseases - disorders in which your resistance to disease becomes
dangerously low
Autoimmune diseases - diseases causing your immune system to attack your own
body's cells and tissues by mistake
HIV and AIDS- a disease in which the immune system is destroyed beyond repair.
Now… to sum this up…
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The immune system is a collection of cells and organs that protect
the body from pathogens(viruses and bacteria).
The immune system is mainly made up of white blood cells which
can be classified into two groups: T cells and B cells.
To keep your immune system healthy, sleep and avoid sugars and
grains.
Some diseases of the immune system can be as insignificant as
asthma, or as life threatening as AIDS.
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