New News Biology #29

The Immune System

Defense Systems = Physical & Chemical Barriers (which stop pathogens) and Immune System (which destroys those in the body)

How our Body Defends Against ‘Invaders’:

Pathogens try to enter out body through ‘holes’, gaps which are seemingly undefended

The first barrier is a physical one, covered in oils that have evolved to kill pathogens. The barrier I’m talking about is the skin

The pathogens may try to enter through the nose. But it has lots of tiny hairs which trap the pathogens

Those that get through enter the trachea/windpipe, and face the mucus and cilia which are like sticky bug traps

Supposing some of these invaders still get through and deeper inside our bodies, they face the hydrochloric acid of the stomach.

In the blood you will find the white blood cells, which are part of the immune system. Three defensive procedures are at their disposal: Phagocytosis, release anti-toxins, or manufacture anti-bodies.

After all that, it is mostly game-over for the pathogens.