The Immune System

The Structure & Function: 


What is the function of the immune system: The function of the immune system is to protect the body from diseases & other harmful beings. The immune system does this through a series of organs that produce cells in order to annihilate invading bacteria. The names of these two types of cells in this system are called lymphocytes & phagocytes (there are other types of white blood cells including macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, & many other types of other cells). These cells arrive in "bands", routinely eating, disabling, or exterminating foreign bacteria.
Gomez, Miguel, and Ann Marie Rakovic. "AIDS.gov." Immune System 101. Miguel Gomez, 08 Oct. 2011. Web. 03 Nov. 2016. <https://www.aids.gov/images/aids-infographics/immune-system101-2-1.jpg>.

What are the names & functions of the major organs in the immune system: The names & functions of the major organs in the immune system are...
  • Lymphocytes: The function of lymphocytes that have a distinctive proficiency to create antibodies, in the sense that when a group of invading cells (or just invading cells on their own), another group of defending cells appear. Then these antibodies target & debilitate the enemy cells. The phagocytes (See: Phagocytes) then clean up the remains by disposing of them through eating.                                                                       Sometimes, the lymphocytes turn in "memory cells" in the sense that they remember what the bacteria look like so that it is easier to demolish the bacteria.
  • Phagocytes: Phagocytes are a type of white blood cell that execute and/or eat enemy cells.
  • Lymph node: This type of "node" acts like a filter (somewhat like the kidneys) & are distributed around the body to sift out unknown cells.
  • Lymphatic vessels: The lymphatic vessel is a network of tubes & a system of valves that allows fluid to drain through.
  • Thymus gland: The thymus gland creates hormones, but sometimes produces cells to fight off infections. 
  • Spleen: This is an organ that contains phagocytes (see: Phagocytes), that once again, find & destroy enemy cells in the blood & veins, however, these phagocytes sometimes push out of the veins & blood circulation to fight alien bacteria that are not traveling in the blood.
  • Tonsils: The tonsils, like the lymphocytes, have the ability to create antibodies & are used to fight against infections.

The structure & function of the lymphocytes: The structure of the lymphocytes depends on where they are - some lymphocytes travel to the thymus where they begin to turn into "T cells", while other lymphocytes retreat to the bone marrow. However, the function of lymphocytes are to create antibodies & exterminate alien bacteria/invasive cells.

Interactions With Other Systems: 


 What are the interactions between other systems? The interactions between other systems that the immune system has are... 
  • The Integumentary System: Seeing as the integumentary system is made up of skin cells, the immune system works well with the integumentary system to help barricade the body from invasive bacteria & other microscopic organisms. The skin acts like a wall against alien pathogens to prevent them from entering the body.
  • Circulatory (cardiovascular) System: The circulatory system also works quite adequately with the immune system, as the immune system uses the circulatory system as a way for transportation. Antigens & pathogens (antigens are toxins, or alien substances that trigger a response from the immune system, such as the production of antibodies, while pathogens are microscopic organisms that can cause health issues, such as diseases) are sent to the spleen. 


The Immune System Analogy: 
Explain the immune system analogy: This analogy is comparing the lymphocyte to a library - when the lymphocyte turns into a "memory cell", that means that it remembers what kind of bacteria it had to exterminate. That would mean that if it came across the same type of bacteria, it would be easier to get rid of that bacteria. It is in the same way a library stores information - the books would be the memories of the bacteria/alien cell, and the actual library itself would be the lymphocyte.

REDESIGN: How Can I Make This System Better? 


 How can you make this system better? I would make the immune system better by making it so that the spleen, which creates and contains phagocytes, creates and contains more phagocytes by enlarging the space capacity of the spleen, like a balloon almost, therefore allowing it to be faster for the phagocytes to clean up the remains of alien bacteria. I would also make it so that more antibodies are produced so that it is easier to get rid of foreign bacteria that are not already known.

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