When bacteria enters the human body, the immune system is what helps with the elimination of germs. First, for example, if there is a small cut on the surface of your skin, bacteria enters it. Every cell in the body and every pathogen that invades the body has special makers on its sufcae called Antigens. Antigens are markers that tell the immune system if it is part of the body. The first time a pirticular pathogen enters the body, it Antigen marker alerts the immune system that it does not belong. It is the first time that a certain bacteria enters the body that might cause sickness. The reason for this, is since it has never been identified before, it might take a bit londer for the white blood cells to produce enought to quickly eliminate the bacteria before it has a chance to affect the body. After the bacteria has been identified for the first time, there are extra antibodies that were released by the white blood cells so when it enters your system the next time, there is defense ready to help eliminate it much more quickly. The white blood cells that release the antibodies are called Lymphocite cells. Antibodies are 'Y' shaped tools that are designed so that its ends fit on the antigen marker of a cretain bacteria.
http://http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/6074-disease-defense-the-immune-system-video.htm
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
cool the video is pretty interesting how do the Y things know what to attack???
ReplyDeleteThe "Y" things are called anti bodies, and they are not the cells that attack the intruding cells. What the antibodies do is they clump the intruding cells thogether making things easier and more ovbious for th ecells that do destroy the pathogens. In addition, the antibodies know what to attach to because of these small markers on every cell called antigens. The antigens allert the immune system that there is an intruder and this triggers the whit e blood cells to produce said antibodies, which then attach to the pathogens.
ReplyDelete