Imune

Imune as an Organ

Imune (organ): Another name for Immune system.

Imune (organ): The immune system protects the body against invading microbes such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. Some of the general front-line immune defences are the skin and various membranes, but a variety of internal organs and cells provide very specific defences. Organs involved in this process include white blood cells (T-cells and B-cells), thymus (matures T-cells), bone marrow (produces WBCs), tonsils (protect the throat), lymph nodes, and the spleen. Other defensive body processes include stomach acid, various cleaning secretions (e.g. tears, saliva, vaginal secretions, etc.), nasal hairs, mucus in the throat and respiratory system, and cilia in the mucus.

Although the immune system usually prevents disease, sometimes it can cause it. There are several diseases caused by an overactive immune system such as allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases (more than 100), and hay fever.

Parts of the immune system can become diseased. Failure of the entire immune system is immune deficiency such as in AIDS and primary immune deficiency (such as SCID). Cancer can afflict immune system cells: leukemia is cancer of blood cells (usually white blood cells), multiple myeloma is cancer of plasma cells (a type of B-cell), and lymphoma is cancer of the lymph nodes; also possible is thymus cancer. The solid organs such as the tonsils and spleen can become infected like any other organ (e.g. tonsilitis, splenomegaly).

Imune (organ): immune system — a complex network of specialized cells, tissues, and organs that defends the body against attacks by disease-causing microbes. (Source: excerpt from Microbes in Sickness and in Health - Publications, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: NIAID)

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