Defense system of the body (Essay Sample)

Body Immunity Student’s Name Name of the Institution Course Name & Number Professor’s Name Due Date Body Immunity People often encounter pathogenic organisms, including bacteria, viruses, and other parasites. However, the body's immune system plays a crucial role in keeping these pathogens away (Hillion et al., 2020). The outer skin, specialized gut lining, and other parts of the body are often exposed to the outside help by preventing the organisms from entering the boy through a barrier. However, once the pathogen breaches the protective barrier, the body's immune system is activated. The body's initial response to a pathogen involves two branches of the immune system, including the innate and adaptive. The innate immune system functions as the body's first line of defense and comprises special molecules responsible for detecting and recognizing protein patterns or genetic material in pathogens (Hillion et al., 2020). The molecules also notify the cellular genetic machinery of the presence of the pathogen and produce cytokines, effector molecules. The primary function of innate immunity is to get rid of the pathogen. Further, at a later stage, the adaptive immune comes into play. The primary role of the adaptive immune system is to consolidate and initiate a more intensive defense by starting the destruction of the infected cells or through neutralization of the pathogen as well as the toxins from the bacteria (Hillion et al., 2020). In addition, the adaptive immune system comprises a memory-making it sensitive and rapidly activated upon encounter with the same pathogen at a later point in time as the long-term effect. As such, both innate and adaptive immune systems are interlinked and interdependent. Innate immunity is composed of protection from two aspects: skin and mucus membrane protection and defense cells and proteins (Ekdahl et al., 2019). The parts making up the innate immune system is the outer surface and inner surfaces of the body by forming a physical barrier against the entry of the pathogen. Additionally, these surfaces contain chemical substances like enzymes, acids, and mucus which prevent adherence and entry of the pathogen. Also, other structures like cilia stop the pathogens from settling (InformedHealth, 2020). Bodily fluids such as sweat, tears, and urine play an important function by flushing out the pathogen from various body systems. The defense cells in the innate immune system include scavenger cells and natural killer cells. The natural killer cells from the third primary defense system in innate immunity. Their primary role is to identify infected cells or those that have become cancerous by searching for abnormalities on the cell surfaces and then destroying them with toxins (InformedHealth, 2020). The scavenger cells are the first primary part of the innate system and are phagocytes that stop the pathogens right away. These cells are specialized leukocytes that engulf the pathogen and digest them. However, the remnants of the pathogens transfer to the surface, where they will be detected by adaptive immunity. Further, proteins or enzymes play a crucial role in the innate immune system. Nine known enzymes are playing the role of activating each other, allowing the immune system to escalate rapidly (InformedHealth, 2020). The primary functions include making the pathogen targets for scavenger cells, destroying cell walls of the pathogens, attracting other cells of the immune system through the bloodstream, and fighting by destroying infected cells. Along the way, especially if the innate immune system does not effectively destroy the pathogen, the adaptive immune systems set in. Adaptive immunity is a little slower because it has to identify the specific pathogen causing an infection and target it (Ekdahl et al., 2019). Additionally, its memory assists in identifying the pathogens so that the subsequent invasion of the same pathogen cannot take long. Primarily, adaptive immunity comprises T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, and antibodies. The T-lymphocytes are primarily made in the bone marrow and move through the bloodstream to the thymus to mature. They function as chemical messengers activating other immune system cells to start adaptive immunity as helper cells (InformedHealth, 2020). Also, cytotoxic T cells detect and destroy tumorous and infected cells, and some become memory cells after the first infection. On the other hand, B cells or the B-lymphocytes are produced and mature in the bone marrow to become specialized immune system cells. The T helper cells activate B cells to transform into plasma cells producing antibodies and releasing them into the bloodstream. Like the T cells, some of the B cells become memory cells and play a part in the memory of adaptive immunity. The different defense cells of the adaptive immunity communicate and interact with each other directly or indirectly through various chemical messengers which are soluble such as cytokines (Ekdahl et al., 2019). Cytokines are proteins in nature produced by various body cells. On the other hand, antibodies contain protein and sugar components circulating in the bloodstream to fight p...