1. The Immune System

2. The Immune System in Action
When a mosquito bites
When you breathe
When you have allergies
When you get a blood transfusion
....also called the Lymphatic System

3. The Lymphatic System contains lymph, which is a clear liquid that circulates through the lymph vessels
Edema occurs if this fluid builds up in areas

4. Edema and Pitting edema

5. Lymphatic Organs Contain a large number of lymphocytes (cells)
Red Bone Marrow Thymus Gland Lymph Nodes

6. Defenses
Nonspecific - barriers to entry (skin), inflammatory response, phagocytes; also called “Innate Immune System”
Specific - require B cells and T cellS

7. The Mammalian Immune System includes two specific responses:
1. Cell-mediated - Cytotoxic T cells target intracellular pathogens when antigens are displayed on the outside of cells.
2. Humoral - B cells produce antibodies, specific to a particular antigen. (2nd exposure to antigen results in a quick response)

8. How Do Vaccines Work?
Vaccines contained a killed or weakened part of a virus (or other pathogen) to stimulate your immune system to react to the antigen. Once you have antibodies for that microbe, the real one will not make you sick.
Why do some people not want to vaccinate their children?
Why do some people choose not to get the flu vaccine?

9. Some people already have boosted immune systems…
Some people already have boosted immune systems….. they suffer from AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS such as:
lupus allergies
Lupus is a widespread and chronic autoimmune disease that, for unknown reasons, causes the immune system to attack the body’s own tissues and organs, including joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, blood, and skin. - See more at:

10. Autoimmune disorders are often treated with steroids, which suppress the immune system.

16. MACROPHAGES

17. See Animation: The Immune Response

18. Another Look
Animation of the process from McGraw Hill

19. Specific Immune Response