Homeostasis - a movable constant internal environment of the body, which has certain limits. Supported by this constant internal environment using a variety of mechanisms. Not least in the maintenance of homeostasis Homeostasis: physiological mechanisms   It takes the immune system.

What is the immune homeostasis

The immune homeostasis - it is part of the overall homeostasis. Supports immune homeostasis by means of the immune system, the main task is to prevent the body of any "outsiders". To "outsiders" may include any infectious agents, foreign bodies, foreign proteins and even its own altered cells (eg, cancer cells). The immune system keeps track of the appearance of such elements and ruthlessly destroys, thereby maintaining a constant internal environment. Sometimes the immune system malfunctions and attacks gives in "their" (for example, cells of the body), as a result of having an autoimmune disease.

The system is represented by two branches of the immune system - cellular and humoral immunity.

The disease is a violation of homeostasis. All diseases can be divided into infectious and non-infectious or somatic. Infectious diseases - the result of penetration into the body of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa). In most cases, the normal immune system is coping with these diseases.

Non-communicable diseases (eg, coronary heart disease Heart disease - symptoms of heart disease , Gastritis, Graves' disease) is the result of severe physical or mental stress, poor lifestyle choices. Typically, these diseases are accompanied by impaired immunity, so the body can not cope with them, in which case the disease becomes chronic.

How does the human immune system

The principal organs of the immune system are bone marrow and thymus gland (thymus). In addition, participating in the formation of immune spleen, lymph nodes, lymphatic tissue accumulation in the intestine, nasopharyngeal tonsil ring. A large number of immune cells, lymphocytes (type white blood cells) and macrophages (connective tissue cells, can capture and digest "intruders"), found in the blood and lymphatic fluid.

The bone marrow cells are formed young, which are called stem. Because stem cells subsequently form all blood cells and immune cells. Stem cells, which subsequently formed lymphocytes enter the thymus, where they are under the influence of hormones are transformed into T-lymphocytes and then fall through the blood to the lymph nodes, spleen and intestines. Standing out in blood, thymus hormones promote the development of T-lymphocytes and is thymus.

Lymph nodes are a mechanical obstacle (barrier) for infectious agents. They carried out the delay and the selection of "outsiders" who must be destroyed. In addition, lymph nodes neutralized and decomposed by toxins formed in the process of metabolism, bacterial toxins and dead cells. Spleen tissue is divided into red and white. Lymphocytes and macrophages are formed in the white cloth.

Lymphoid tissue of the intestine, respiratory tract and urinary organs is an accumulation of lymphocytes and macrophages. When the "outsiders" there are activated T and B lymphocytes and macrophages produced immunoglobulins (antibodies) - all these elements provide local immunity.

T lymphocytes are divided into three types:

• T-killer (murderer) - kill infected or malignant cells;
• T-helper cells (helpers) - contribute to the formation of killer cells and B-lymphocytes transform into plasma cells (which produce antibodies);
• T-suppressors - regulate antibody production, i.e. humoral immunity.

How does the immune system

The pathogen enters the lymph node, where it is digested phagocytes - blood cells and connective tissue, capable of phagocytosis (digestion of antigens or "outsiders"). This is the first stage of the immune system - cellular immunity.

Then, under the influence of infectious agents, employees start signal, B-lymphocytes and plasma cells in turn begin to produce immunoglobulins or antibodies, which are suitable for this type of infectious agents as the key to the lock. Antibodies are glued together with infectious agents (antigens) and neutralize them. This second stage of the immune system - humoral immunity.

The immune system is a single coordinated system consisting of a plurality of units, consisting each other in a complex relationship. Violation of one link can be offset by other parts, and could cause a chain reaction of immune disorders in general.

Galina Romanenko

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