Central and peripheral organs of the immune system and their functions

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Central and peripheral organs of the immune system and their functions
Central and peripheral organs of the immune system and their functions
Anonim

Many do not know what immunity is, presenting it as something abstract. All because it is located in many places. This is a powerful, balanced structure, whose task is to take care of the genetic constancy of a person, and its basis is the central organs. At the slightest danger, all mechanisms move from supervision to protection, which includes up to seven steps.

The hematopoietic and immune systems are interconnected by similar signs. The central and peripheral organs of the immune system are discussed in this article.

The work of our defense

Let's say one day you get scratched by a cat. At that moment, the first barrier was passed - the skin. Bacteria located nearby immediately penetrate inside. When the invaders begin to harm the entire body, the fight comessentinel cells known as macrophages. They can usually engulf the bacteria alone while causing local inflammation in their own tissues. When the battle goes on too long, macrophages send squirrels calling for help from other relatives.

Neutrophils deviate from their routes in the vessels and join the fray. They rush at the enemy so violently that they destroy the cells of their own body along the way, they are so dangerous that they are programmed to self-destruct after 5 days.

If these measures are not enough, then the immune system, the central and peripheral organs of immunity force smart dendrites to activate, which collect samples from enemies and, after analyzing, decide who to call for help. They go to the lymph nodes with millions of lymphocytes. Dendrite is looking for a cell with similar parameters to the invader. When a suitable candidate is found, it is activated and begins to divide, creating many copies. Some become memory cells, remain and make you virtually invulnerable to the enemy, others go to the battlefield, and still others wake up their c-kinsmen, starting the process of producing antibodies.

Dendritic cells with t-lymphocytes
Dendritic cells with t-lymphocytes

Bone marrow

The immune system, central and peripheral organs is a complex and well-oiled mechanism, where every detail does its job.

There are several reserves of cells in the body that can perform only one function.

Those who divide, reproducing new offspring, are called stem. It is theyare the progenitors of all cells, creating different types to maintain balance. The zone of origin of blood cells, that is, erythrocytes, leukocytes 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, because 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.

As we age, the amount of red brain decreases, turning into yellow, consisting of fat, and, accordingly, the restorative forces begin to change.

One of the representatives of the cells that are born in the brain are called lymphocytes, since in addition to blood they also live in the lymphatic systems. There are different forms and functions, among which B- and T-groups are distinguished.

B-lymphocytes

Responsible for cellular memory, that is, when 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 is destroyed. After selection, the surviving cells break off and travel throughout the body.

When a virus invades the body, immunoglobulins wrap it intangle and render harmless. This is how B-lymphocytes work. Protection 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 harmoniously and together. Unfortunately, our defenses react gradually, and it takes time before the concentration of antibodies in the patient's blood reaches a high level. If the rate of development of bacteria exceeds the rate of acceleration of the protective function, the person dies.

The structure of the bone marrow
The structure of the bone marrow

Thymus

The thymus got its name because of its 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 multi-lobed and resembles this flower. Located on top of the trachea. It can be compared to a school. Vessels and connective tissues are the attendants that create the conditions for the stay of students, that is, cells. Next - the epithelium, which trains the lymphocytes, and, finally, the particles themselves. They share, get educated and then pass the final exam, the failure of which is certain death. Approximately 95% die because it reacts to its own antigen, and only 5% begins to move out and spread through the immune system, central and peripheral organs of the whole body.

When stress occurs, temporary atrophy of the thymus, but after a day it begins to gradually recover.

The life of lymphocytes, full of adventure and danger, continues in the thymus until adolescence, and thenthe gradual disappearance of this organ, which in science is called "involution". This also explains the age-related fading of protection, since the "guards" cease to be produced, and there is no one to fight viruses.

Location of the thymus in the body
Location of the thymus in the body

T-lymphocytes

The central and peripheral organs of the immune system of animals and humans are identical.

The T-system has nothing to do with antibodies, more precisely, it uses markers, but does not know how to create them.

Divided into two main types: T-killers (CD-8) and T-helpers (CD-4).

CD-8 are the only lymphocytes capable of fighting viruses. Activated cells move through the cytoplasm to the nearest diseased target. They release cytokines, enzymes, and a porforin molecule that is capable of punching holes in the opponent's membrane. Disabling this defense system leads to the 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 do not cope with the task, and also block their activity. Some autoimmune diseases are believed to be the result of a malfunction.

Peripheral organs

lymphatic system
lymphatic system

The visiting card of 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, a quick recognition andquick reaction, due to which a person practically does not feel the manifestations of the disease. The smallest members of the defense are nodules. In some places they are so small that they are only visible under a microscope and are found throughout the body. This is done so that there is no such area 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 these structures and those that we talked about earlier.

Lymph nodes

They are tissue formations where they live, reproduce their own kind and fight for our life lymphocytes. Thus, this structure is the 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 all over the body, for example, behind the ears, in the armpit, near the collarbone, in the groin, etc. Normally, the nodes are not palpable, and if they can be seen, then some kind of inflammation has begun. When a microbe enters here, it is destroyed, disassembled into parts, and then transferred to other cells for recognition and acquiring a reaction to it.

Model of a lymph node
Model of a lymph node

Spleen

In each of us, nature has two types of immunity: innate and acquired. The first line of defense is represented by 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. ATIn 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 "graveyard of red blood cells."

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 producing cells to neutralize them. In addition, it is a kind of the largest training base for B-lymphocytes. Here they ripen, and then go to the blood, where they will be responsible for resistance to various kinds of bacteria. If the mechanism is broken, then the person will be defenseless against deadly diseases.

Location of the spleen in the body
Location of the spleen in the body

Tertiary Organs

We have skin and mucous membranes, where humoral (blood-bound) immunity works, since various immunoglobulin reactions are located here. If any microorganisms get on the surface, they die after a while.

When we inhale or eat, a huge amount of bacteria and microbes settles on the mucous membranes towards us. In tertiary systems, they are caught by sticky fractions of proteins, twisted into a ball, and then leukocytes and their brothers deal with the captives.

Lymphocytes (yellow) attack virus cells
Lymphocytes (yellow) attack virus cells

Besides infections and vaccinations, there are not many ways that can increase the function of the central and peripheral organs of the immune system. But you can maintain the right balance with regular nutrition, physical andmental activity, avoiding stress and any extremes that are harmful to your he alth.

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