What is the Immune System?
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The immune system is a collection of cells and organs, that work together to protect us from illnesses, diseases and help us recover when we do get sick. The components of the immune system destory harmful, foreign matter that gets inside the body, such as pathogens and harmful bacteria. These are disease causing micro-oranisms. The immune system also rids the body of it's own cells that have become dysfunctional, damaged or abnormal. When the immune sysytem can not rid the body of harmful micro-organisms fast enough, we can get symptoms like fever, cough and sore throat. This is the immune system clearing the body of the damaging viruse. It can take a few days to weeks for the illness and symptoms to dissappear. Immune cells are of the least bountiful cells in the body and their activity depends on the releasing of a variety of important chemicals. The immune cells communicate with one another in the form of releasing chemicals called cytokines. They release these chemicals to influence the behavior of other cells. Each type of immune cell has a very special job to do in the body.The immune system organs include tonsils, adenoids, lymph nodes, thymus gland, bone marrow, spleen, appendix and peyer's patches. Immune cells are White blood cells also know as leukocytes. There are several different types of white blood cells, that are specialized to do a specific job to keep the body healthy.