Many do not know what immunity is, representing it as something abstract. All because he is in many places. This is a powerful, balanced structure, whose task is to care for the human genetic constancy, and its basis is the central organs. At the slightest danger, all mechanisms go from supervision to protection, which includes up to seven steps.
Hematopoietic and immune systems are related by similar signs. The central and peripheral organs of the immune system are discussed in this article.
The work of our defense
Suppose one day a cat scratched you. At this moment, the first barrier was passed - the skin. Nearby bacteria immediately penetrate inside. When invaders begin to harm the entire body, sentinel cells known as macrophages enter the fray. Usually, they can absorb bacteria alone, while simultaneously causing local inflammation of their own tissues. When the battle goes on too long, macrophages send squirrels calling for help from other relatives.
Neutrophils leave their routes in vessels and join the battle. They rush at the enemy so violently that they simultaneously destroy the cells of their own body, they are so dangerous that they are programmed to self-destruct after 5 days.
If these measures are not enough, then the immune system, central and peripheral organs of immunity make smart dendrites activate, which collect samples from enemies and, after analyzing, decide who to call for help. They head to the lymph nodes with millions of lymphocytes. The dendrite is looking for a cell with parameters similar to the invader. When a suitable candidate is found, it activates and begins to share, creating many copies. Some become memory cells, remain and make you almost invulnerable to the enemy, others go to the battlefield, and others wake their relatives, starting the process of generating antibodies.
Bone marrow
The immune system, central and peripheral organs - this is a complex and well-functioning mechanism, where every detail is engaged in its own business.
In the body there are several preserves of cells that can perform only one function.
Those who divide, reproducing new offspring, are called stem. They are the progenitors of all cells, creating different species in order to maintain balance. The area of origin of blood cells, that is, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, is the red bone marrow - the main hematopoietic organ located inside the bones of the skeleton.
These particles cannot reproduce on their own, since they do not have a nucleus and live only 4 months.
The structure of the central and peripheral organs of the immune system, despite similar functions, is completely different in composition and properties.
With age, the amount of red brain decreases, turning into yellow, consisting of fat, and, accordingly, the recovery forces begin to change.
Some of the representatives of cells that are born in the brain are called lymphocytes, since they, in addition to blood, also live in the lymphatic systems. There are various forms and functions, among which B- and T-groups are distinguished.
B lymphocytes
They are responsible for cellular memory, that is, faced with infections, they remember their structure and next time they will be ready to fight it.
B-lymphocytes create antibodies, and this is their main task. After maturation in the bone marrow, they enter the vessels where they settle on the walls, and each cell exposes its own set of genes as a membrane receptor. At this stage, if a young lymphocyte interacts with at least some substance from the fluids passing by it, it is destroyed. After selection, the surviving cells come off and leave to travel throughout the body.
When a virus invades the body, immunoglobulins wrap it in a ball and neutralize it. This is how B lymphocytes work. The defense is divided into humoral, which is produced by these particles, and leukocyte, where T and B lymphocytes interact with each other, forming various models of the immune system. The central and peripheral organs at the same time act in concert and together. Unfortunately, our defense reacts gradually, and it will take time before the concentration of antibodies in the patient's blood reaches a high rate. If the rate of development of bacteria exceeds the speed of dispersal of the protective function, the person dies.
Thymus
The thymus gland got its name because of the shape in the form of the letter V. From the Greek, “thymus” is translated as “thyme” due to the fact that in many animals it is multilobate and resembles this flower. Located on top of the trachea. It can be compared with school. Vessels and connective tissue is a staff that creates conditions for students to stay, that is, cells. Next up is the epithelium that trains lymphocytes, and finally the particles themselves. They divide, get an education and then pass the final exam, the failure of which is certain death. About 95% die because they respond to their own antigen, and only 5% begin to evict and spread throughout the immune system, central and peripheral organs of the whole body.
Under stress, a temporary atrophy of the thymus occurs, but after a day it begins to gradually recover.
Full of adventures and dangers, the life of lymphocytes continues in the thymus until adolescence, and then this organ gradually disappears, which in science is called “involution”. This also explains the age-related extinction of protection, since the "guards" cease to be produced, and there is no one to fight viruses.
T lymphocytes
The central and peripheral organs of the immune system of animals and humans are identical.
The T-system is in no way associated with antibodies, more precisely, it uses markers, but itself does not know how to create them.
It is divided into two main types: T-killers (CD-8) and T-helpers (CD-4).
CD-8s are the only lymphocytes that can fight viruses. Activated cells move through the cytoplasm to the nearest diseased target. They release cytokines, enzymes, and a porphorin molecule that can punch holes in the enemy’s membrane. Disabling this protection system leads to an immunodeficiency virus, in which diseases that are easy for a normal person become fatal.
CD-4 helps B-lymphocytes in the process of producing antibodies, if they can not cope with the task, and also block their activity. Some autoimmune diseases are believed to be the result of a malfunction in their work.
Peripheral organs
The visiting card of the secondary organs is the location at the junction of two environments. Ready cells are stored here. These are lymphatic accumulations, mucous membrane, lymphoid tissue and spleen. Such a distribution gives a gain in time, that is, quick recognition and quick reaction, so that a person practically does not feel the manifestations of the disease. The smallest participants in the defense are nodules. In some places they are so small that they are visible only under a microscope and are found throughout the body. This is done so that there is no place left where the lymphoid system does not exercise its control.
If you are asked to name the central and peripheral organs of the immune system, you can safely list all of these structures and those that we spoke about earlier.
Lymph nodes
They are formations from the tissue where they live, reproduce their own kind, and lymphocytes fight for our lives. Thus, this structure is a checkpoint for the immune system. Central and peripheral organs are responsible for the safety of the whole organism.
T-cells most often live here, which remember the disease and help fight it. They are located throughout the body, for example, behind the ears, in the armpit, near the collarbone, in the inguinal region, etc. Normally, the nodes are not palpable, and if you can notice them, it means some kind of inflammation has begun. When a microbe gets here, it is destroyed, disassembled into parts, and then transmitted to other cells to recognize and acquire a reaction to it.
Spleen
In each of us, nature has two types of immunity: innate and acquired. The first line of defense is macrophage cells or devourers. At the end of the 19th century, they were described by the scientist Ilya Mechnikov, who received the Nobel Prize for his discovery. In the spleen, macrophages cleanse the blood of certain viruses, bacteria, toxins, and even old blood cells. For such an important function, she received the nickname "red blood cell cemetery."
The central and peripheral organs of the immune system and their functions are fundamentally different from each other.
The spleen is actively involved in the immune response, recognizing strangers and developing cells to neutralize them. In addition, it is a kind of largest training base for b-lymphocytes. Here they ripen, and then go to the blood, where they will be responsible for resistance to various bacteria. If the mechanism is broken, then the person will be defenseless against deadly diseases.
Tertiary organs
We have skin and mucous membranes, where humoral (blood-related) immunity works, since there are various reactions of immunoglobulins. If any microorganisms get to the surface, then they die after some time.
When we inhale or eat, a huge amount of bacteria and microbes settle on our mucous membranes. In tertiary systems they are caught by sticky fractions of proteins, twisted into a ball, and then leukocytes and their brothers are straightened with captives.
In addition to infections and vaccinations, there are not many ways that can enhance the functions of the central and peripheral organs of the immune system. But you can maintain the right balance with regular nutrition, physical and mental activity, avoiding stress and any extremes that harm your health.