The Immune System Unit 1-11 Notes Mr. Hefti – Pulaski Biology

Immune System Fun Facts 1.Getting under 5 hours of sleep a night has been shown to greatly depress immune function. 2.Humor has been shown to stimulate the immune system. 3.Toxins such as air pollution, pesticides and even second-hand smoke can affect your body's natural defense system. 4.There are around 50 billion white blood cells in your body whose only interest is to keep your body's natural defenses in good condition. Don't worry if you lose 5 billion when you give blood – they will be replaced soon! 5.While the body needs some sunlight to produce vitamin D, too much sunshine can suppress the immune system. 6.The number one way to boost the immune system is to reduce stress.

What does this organ system do? The immune system prevents infections and detects and destroys pathogens that get into your body.

1 st line of nonspecific defenses… Skin, oil, sweat, mucus membranes… Act as barriers blocking entry of pathogens; also make body inhospitable to them and trap them.

2 nd line of defenses (specific)… Inflammatory response: increase in blood flow brings WBCs to infection site Fever: increase in body T kills many harmful microbes Proteins: circulate in blood preventing infections WBCs: patrol bloodstream attacking pathogens

Macrophage Neutrophil Natural killer cell Helper T cell Cytotoxic T cell B cell Plasma cell Memory cell The key with WBCs is to remember that there are several types of cells all working together to protect you from disease. Types of WBCs …

Make connections… How do the other organ systems rely upon the immune system for their proper functioning? The immune system protects the body from disease. Why does the immune system rely upon the endocrine system and the circulatory system? –Hormones contribute to the proper growth of many immune cells and the circulatory system transports the WBCs to where they are needed.