The Importance Of The Immune System

“The immune system is a network of cells and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by 'foreign ' invaders. These invaders are primarily germs--tiny infection- causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi” (9.1 Mind and Immunity). The job of the immunes system is to keep out and destroy these “foreign invaders”. Organs of the immune system are called lymphoid organs that have lymphocytes (small white cells that are produced in bone marrow and fight against infection). A type of lymphocytes is a T-cell; they start development in the thymus then mature to be able to distinguish between “self and nonself” cells. Following development lymphocytes are kept in the lymph nodes and spleen (contain compartments of specialized immune cells). These organs “contain networks of nerve cells, which provide a pathway for the brain and central nervous system to influence immunity” (9.1 Mind and Immunity). “At the heart of the immune system is the remarkable ability to distinguish between the body 's own cells--self--and foreign cells--nonself. Anything that can trigger this immune response is called an antigen. Bacteria, a virus. cells …show more content…
While Pavlov was studying dog salivation he found that when a dog was fed dry food a high volume of saliva was created. When a dog was fed watery food less saliva was created. Along with this he discovered that when different items were put into a dogs mouth the dog only produced enough saliva to get the item out of its mouth. A marble took very little saliva sand took much much more saliva. Since every time the dog entered the lab it was going to be fed it would start salivating as soon as it entered the lab. This is a conditioned