Immunity meaning – Types and disorders of the immune system
Immunity meaning in Hindi is Pratiraksha and in Marathi is Pratikarshakti.
The word “Immune” comes from the Latin word for “Protection”
The purpose of the immune system is to protect the body against attack from foreign invaders or foreign particles. These are primarily microbes (germs)—tiny, infection-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi.
Immunity refers to
About Immune System
- The human body provides an ideal environment for many microbes to enter and cause infection.
- It is the Immune system’s job to defend against them or destroy them.
- The Immune system is a network of cells, tissues and organs that work together to defend the body against attack by these “foreign” invaders.
- These are primarily infection-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi.
The Immune system provides immunity against these foreign bodies such as virus, toxins, fungus, bacteria, parasites and worms, germs, carcinogens, pollution. The first line of defense is the skin. The second line of defence are the white blood cells.
White Blood Cells:
These are cells of the immune system are the policemen of the body. They help to defend the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials. Five different types of white blood cells exist. The bone marrow produces these
Immunity Basic Organs
- The basic organs are
- Thymus
- Spleen
- Bone marrow
- Lymph nodes
Thymus:
is present in the chest region just above the heart. It plays a major role in cell mediated immunity.
Spleen:
is the largest lymphoid organ in the body
Bone marrow:
- It is present in the long bones like humerus, femur
etc . - The main function of bone marrow is the production of red blood cells, white blood cells & platelets(erythropoiesis)
- White blood cells plays
major role in the immune system of the body against the different pathogens
Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes are small bean shaped structures laced along the lymphatic cells and have clusters around the neck, armpits, groin and abdomen.
There are 2 types of Immunity
- Innate (or Natural)
- Acquired (or Adapative)
Innate Immunity
- means natural immunity.
- It is the inborn capacity of
body to offer resistance to pathogens and their toxic products. - Provides the
first line defense of the body against many common microorganisms. - Non-specific and generalized defense mechanism – This means the immunological response is not specifically against any particular organism.
e.g. Skin provides protection against all the pathogens
Acquired Immunity
- It is also called Adaptive immunity
- This means immune responses improve on repeated exposure to a given infection.
When the immune system hits a wrong button, it can unleash a torrent of autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, allergy, or AIDs. The human body provides an ideal environment for many microbes, they try to break in. It is the immune system’s job to keep them out or, failing that, to seek out and destroy them.
Disorders of the Immune System
Allergic Diseases
The most common types of allergic diseases occur when the immune system responds to a false alarm. For a person with an allergy to a specific component which may be a normally harmless material for someone else such as grass pollen or house, dust is mistaken for a threat and attacked.
Allergies such as pollen allergy are related to the antibody known as IgE. Like other antibodies, each IgE antibody is specific; one acts against oak pollen, another against ragweed.
Autoimmune Diseases
Sometimes the immune system’s recognition apparatus breaks down, and the body begins to manufacture T cells and antibodies directed against its own cells and organs. Misguided T cells and autoantibodies, as they are known, contribute to many diseases. For instance, T cells that attack pancreas cells contribute to diabetes, while an autoantibody known as rheumatoid factor is common in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Those people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have antibodies to many types of their own cells and cell components.
What exactly causes an autoimmune disease is unclear. There are multiple factors likely to be involved. These include elements in the environment, such as viruses, certain drugs, and sunlight, all of which may damage or alter normal body cells. Hormones are suspected of playing a role since most autoimmune diseases are far more common in women than in men. Heredity, too, seems to be important. Many people with autoimmune diseases have characteristic types of self marker molecules.
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