The Covid-19 pandemic has us all asking questions about immunity and how it works. This infographic offers an insight as to just how complex our immune systems are. Most of us grow up believing that our white blood cells do all the work necessary to keep us healthy and free of disease but there’s a lot more to it.
Our immune system works day and night to keep us safe from invaders like viruses, bacteria, and parasites–and there are some scary ones out there. First, it tries to keep the invaders out and if the intruders do take hold, it does what it can to get rid of them.
Your innate immune system includes your skin and the cells that line your throat and lungs. Acquired immunity comes initially from your mother and later through learning as your immune system learns to protect you from foreign particles. Lymphocytes (known as T cells and B cells) help to build up your acquired immunity. The dendric cells break down the antigens making it possible for the killer and helper T cells to attack and destroy invaders.
Your immune system learns as it goes along. Once it has come across an infection it will recognize and quickly get rid of it.
