Immune System Essay, Research Paper

Your immune system is a complex array of organs, cells and molecules distributed throughout your body. Each part of the system contributes to the growth, development or activation of lymphocytes, sophisticated white blood cells that play a major role in your immune response. White blood cells originate in bone marrow. Some then migrate to your thymus where they develop into specialized types of immune cells.

From bone marrow and thymus, some white blood cells gather in lymph nodes and other immune organs, including your spleen, tonsils, adenoids, appendix and small intestine. Other white blood cells circulate throughout your blood and lymphatic vessels.

Lymphatic vessels transport lymph, a colorless fluid that carries microorganisms and dead cells from distant infections into lymph nodes where they can be eliminated. Lymphatic vessels also transport white blood cells to sites of infection.

When you were born, your immune system was relatively weak. As you grew through infancy and childhood, your natural immunity matured and became stronger.

Time also strengthens your immune system by giving you another form of immunity-the kind of protection you acquire through having an infection or being vaccinated against it.

Each time you’re exposed to an antigen, your immune system forms T and B “memory” cells. After you recovered from chickenpox, for example, your immune system stored a few B and T memory cells for chickenpox. The next time you contacted the virus, memory cells multiplied rapidly to stop the infection before it started.

Vaccines also work because of your immune system’s ability to “remember.” When you’re vaccinated, killed or weakened live forms of an infectious organism stimulate an immune response without causing the accompanying illness. Memory cells provide immunity for years or even your lifetime.