The Immune System
Created by: Bo
Learn more about the Immune system.
Organs:
Lymph nodes: These are small bean-shaped structures located throughout the body. Lymph nodes filter the lymphatic fluid and store special cells that can trap cancer cells or bacteria that are traveling through your body in the lymph fluid. Lymph nodes are critical for your body's immune response and many of your immune reactions begin there. When you have an infection, your lymph nodes can get larger and feel tender or sore.
Thymus: A small organ located just behind your breastbone. This is where tour T-Cells mature.
Spleen: The largest lymphatic organ in the body. Its about the size of your fist. Your spleen is located in the upper left part of your abdomen. It contains white blood cells that fight infection and disease. Your spleen also helps control the amount of blood in your body and destroys old and damaged blood cells.
Bone Marrow: The yellow tissue in the center of your bones that is responsible for making white blood cells that become lymphocytes.
Lymphocytes: A small white blood cell that plays a large role in defending the body against disease. There are two main types of lymphocytes: B-cells and T-cells. B-cells make antibodies that attack bacteria and toxins. T-cells help destroy infected or cancerous cells attack body cells themselves when they have been taken over by viruses or have become cancerous.
Appendix: Storehouse for good bacteria.
Tonsils:The tonsils are a pair of soft tissue masses located at the rear of the throat. Each tonsil is composed of tissue similar to lymph nodes, covered by pink mucosa. They are used to prevent infection.
diseases and disorders.
Rheumatoid arthritis: The immune system produces antibodies that attach to the linings of joints. Cells then attack the joints, causing inflammation, swelling, and pain. If untreated, rheumatoid arthritis causes gradually causes permanent joint damage. Treatments can include various oral or injectable medications that reduce immune system over activity.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). People with lupus develop autoimmune antibodies that can attach to tissues throughout the body. Joints, lungs, blood cells, nerves, and kidneys are commonly affected in lupus. Treatment often requires daily oral prednisone, a steroid that reduces immune system function.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The immune system attacks the lining of the intestines, causing episodes of diarrhea, rectal bleeding, urgent bowel movements, abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss.
Type 1 diabetes: Immune system antibodies attack and destroy insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. By young adulthood, people with type 1 diabetes require insulin injections to survive.
Appendicitis: For unclear reasons, the appendix often becomes inflamed, infected, and can rupture. This causes severe pain in the right lower part of the belly, along with nausea and vomiting. Removal of the Appendix is the only cure for this ailment.
How the Immune System works
The Immune System works by attacking bacteria and viruses that enter the body. The immune system may take a while to get a virus out of your body. Some viruses are too strong and cannot be removed.