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Copyright © 1997, Jay Ligda.  All rights reserved.  Published by Humans in the Universe and Jay Ligda.

The Immune System

      The function of the immune system is to attack and destroy abnormal cells, called antigens, in the human body, thus protecting it from infection and disease (Martini, 1992).  This is done by recognizing abnormal cells from normal cells, and mounting an appropriate attack.  The immune system has the ability to "remember" the antigens its has encountered and thus in future encounters mount a more efficient attack (Martini, 1992).  The following is a brief overview of the process according to Martini's Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology (1992).

      An invading antigen is recognized as foreign by specialized "labeling" cells that bind to the antigen and label it for destruction.  Depending on the type of cell binding to the antigen, the cell is either carried to a T cell for destruction or to a B cell for antibody destruction.  If carried to a T cell, the T cell divides into a killer T cell and a memory T cell.  The killer cell proceeds to destroy the invading cell, while the memory cell stores a memory of the antigen so future invasions will be more efficient as the need for a labeling cell is bypassed.  If the antigen is carried to a B cell, the B cell will divide into a memory B cell (for the same purpose of the memory T cell) and a plasma cell.  The plasma cell secretes antibodies that circulate in the system, binds to antigens and destroys them (Martini, 1992).

      The whole process is assisted by helper T cells that stimulate the division of T and B cells, help attract necessary chemicals to the region of the attack, and keep the chemicals from departing before the attack is finished.  Suppressor T cells assist in stopping the process once the attack is complete (Martini, 1992).

by Jay Ligda

(This work is a all or part of an original work first published/written for John. F. Kennedy University:  Final Integrative Project., Mar1996.)


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References

  • Martini, F. (1992).  The Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology. 2nd ed.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice-Hall.

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