The Immune System
The Immune System is also called the Lymphatic System
The Lymph System
Lymph - colorless fluid that circulates throughout the body
Lymphatic Organs - containing large numbers of lymphocytes (thymus, tonsils, spleen)
Red Bone Marrow, Thymus Gland, Lymph Nodes , Spleen, Tonsils
Defenses
Nonspecific - barriers to entry (skin), inflammatory response, phagocytes
Specific - require B Lymphocytes and T lymphocytes (B cells and T cells)
Typical Immune Response
1. Foreign substance invades the body
2. Macrophages consume cells and present anigens (APC = antigen presenting cell)
3. Macrophages activate Helper T cells
4. Helper T cells active B cells (to make antibodies) and Killer T cells
How Do Vaccines Work?
Vaccines contained a killed or weakened part of a virus (or other pathogen) to stimulate your immune system to react to the antigen. Once you have antibodies for that microbe, the real one will not make you sick.
Do you remember who invented the first vaccine?
Answer: Jonas Salk, polio vaccine
Other Resources
See CellsAlive.com for images of the immune system at work.
Anatomy of a Splinter | Allergies | Making Antibodies | Cytotoxic T Cell | Quiz on Immunology