How does the Immune System work?

The immune system protects the human body from outside invaders, these include germs such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, toxins etc. It is made up of different organs, cells, and proteins that work together. There are 2 main parts of the immune system. The first one is the innate immune system: you are born with this. The second one is the adaptive immune system: you develop this when your body is exposed to microbes or chemicals released by microbes. These 2 immune systems work together. ¹ The immune system is a complex network of specialized cells, tissues, and organs that recognize and defend the body from foreign substances, primarily disease-causing microorganisms. Organs and tissues of the immune system include the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, tonsils, mucous membranes, and skin. Granulocytes, macrophages, and T lymphocytes are examples of specialized cells. The lymphatic vessels of the immune system carry immune cells, which converge in lymph nodes found throughout the body. A swollen lymph node often indicates an active immune response to a foreign substance. ²