Teorinfo ~ Our body can function properly because of its reliable defence system. Yup, that’s right. Our immune system, a defence system that wards off infections and invaders from outside the body, works relentlessly to ensure that our health is not compromised.
Without them, our lives will always be in danger when exposed to something foreign. But, do you know what white blood cells or leukocytes are part of the system? So, first, let’s look at the organs involved in this system.
There are 8 that we will discuss, namely adenoids, blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and lymph vessels. Spleen, thymus, and tonsils. Adenoids are a gland located at the top of our mouth responsible for producing white blood cells or antibodies that will shrink over time and disappear when we are adults.
Similarly, the thymus, responsible for the production and maturation of immune cells, also disappears after puberty. Next, bone marrow is a tissue found in bone cavities that produces antibodies.
Then there are the lymph nodes, an organ located in several locations throughout the body such as the axillary, supraclavicular and infraclavicular. This organ helps filter a fluid called lymph which contains white blood cells.
They are often connected by lymph vessels, then there is such a thing as the spleen, a place where white blood cells are stored. There is also something called the tonsils, which are in charge of trapping germs that we sometimes breathe in and releasing antibodies to fight these germs.
Meanwhile, blood vessels serve as a pathway for white blood cells to travel throughout the body. After knowing the organs involved in our immune system, let’s look at the types of cells.
White blood cells are divided into two groups, namely granulocytes and agranulocytes. First, for the granulocyte group, some basophils will be active in allergic reactions. Second, when infected, these cells secrete a chemical called histamine, a marker for an allergic reaction.
Histamine also helps in vasodilation so that blood vessels can dilate and makes it easier for white blood cells to leave the ship to help fight infection. Furthermore, there are eosinophils involved in immunity to parasites.
The third and last in this group, neutrophils, are divided into rod and segment neutrophils. They serve as the first line of defence against acute bacterial or fungal infections. Next, in the group of agranulocytes, there are lymphocytes and monocytes.
These lymphocytes have type T and B cells. T cells will stimulate B cells to work or fight infections such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. B cells will focus on making proteins called antibodies that will fight infection.
Meanwhile, at the time of infection, monocytes will move out of the blood vessels and develop into macrophages that will swallow all foreign objects and destroy them inside. That’s roughly the structure of white blood cells.
Part of our body’s immune system in maintaining health, fighting foreign objects that try to enter. Without them, these foreign objects will enter and go undetected and spread, grow, and be fatal.
Even in some infections, it takes a few days for our body to make enough cells to fight off these foreign objects. Therefore, some symptoms may appear temporarily.
