Immune system
Introduction: Immune system
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).
Descriptions of Immune system
Immune system: The complex group of organs and cells that defends the body against infections and other diseases.
Source: National Institute of Health
Immune system: a system (including the thymus and bone marrow and lymphoid tissues) that protects the body from foreign substances and pathogenic organisms by producing the immune response
Source: WordNet 2.1
Immune system : includes the thymus, spleen, lymphatic system, bone marrow, tonsils, and Peyer's patches, and the migratory cells these organs generate: lymphocytes, granulocytes, and cells of the monocyte- macrophage type.
Source: CRISP
Article Excerpts about Immune system
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)
Summary Information: Immune system
Immune system: The
body's system for protecting itself from viruses and bacteria or any
"foreign" substances.
(Source: excerpt from Kidney Failure Glossary: NIDDK)
Condition count:
145
; see list below.
Organ subtypes:
skin (91), white blood cells (5), thymus gland (3), bone marrow (9), tonsils (7), spleen (3), lymph nodes (9), macrophages
Main condition: Immune disorders
Organs: list of all organs
Diseases List for Immune system:
The following list of medical conditions
have 'Immune system' or similar listed as an affected body part
in our database:
A
Acne
... skinActinic keratosis
... skinAdult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
... white blood cells, bone marrow, immuneAlbinism
... skinAllergic Disorders
... immuneAllergic rhinitis
... immune systemAllergies
... immune system, skinAlopecia Areata
... skinAnaphylaxis
... immune systemAnthrax
... skinAplastic anemia
... bone marrowAutoimmune diseases
... immune systemAutoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome
... immuneAutoimmune Myelopathy
... bone marrowAutoimmune neuropathies
... immuneAutoimmune Urticaria
... skinB
Barber's rash
... skinBehcet's Disease
... skinBlue veins
... skinBoil
... skinBone Marrow Conditions
... bone marrowBullous Pemphigoid
... skinBurns
... skinC
Callus
... skinCandidiasis
... skinCarbuncle
... skinCarotenemia
... skinCellulitis
... skinChediak-Higashi Syndrome
... immune systemChilblain
... skinChronic tonsilitis
... tonsilsCold sores
... skinCommon Variable Immunodeficiency
... white blood cells, immune systemContact dermatitis
... skinCorns
... skinCradle Cap
... skin, scalpCutaneous Anthrax
... skinCutaneous diphtheria
... skinCutaneous mastocytosis
... skinD
Dandruff
... scalpDermatitis
... skinDermatitis herpetiformis
... skinDermoid cyst
... skinDiGeorge's syndrome
... immune system, thymusDiphtheria
... tonsilsDiscoid lupus erythematosus
... skinDrug Allergies
... immune systemDry skin
... skinE
Eczema
... skinElephantiasis
... skinErythema
... skinErythema multiforme
... skinErythema nodosum
... skinErythrasma
... skinErythroderma
... skinErythromelalgia
... skinExfoliative dermatitis
... skinF
Food allergies
... immune systemG
Gaucher Disease
... spleen, bone marrowGenital warts
... skinGranuloma annulare
... skinH
Hay fever
... immune systemHerpes
... skinHives
... immune system, skinHodgkin's Disease
... lymph nodes, immuneHTLV
... immune systemHTLV-1
... immune systemHuman Papillomavirus
... skinHyper-IgE Syndrome
... immune systemHyper-IgM Syndrome
... immune systemI
Ichthyosis
... skinImmune deficiency conditions
... immune systemImmune disorders
... immune systemImpetigo
... skinIncontinentia Pigmenti
... skinInsect sting allergies
... immune systemIntertrigo
... skinJ
Jaundice
... skinK
Kaposi's Sarcoma
... skinKeratosis
... skinL
Latex allergies
... immune systemLeukemia
... white blood cells, bone marrow, immuneLeukocyte Adhesion Defect
... immune systemLichen planus
... skinLichen sclerosis
... skinLipoma
... skinLymphadenitis
... lymph nodes, immuneLymphatic Filariasis
... lymph nodes, immuneLymphedema
... lymph nodesLymphoma
... lymph nodes, immuneM
McCune-Albright Syndrome
... skinMelanoma
... skinMole
... skinMolluscum contagiosum
... skinMultiple Myeloma
... white blood cells, bone marrow, immuneMycosis fungoides
... skin, lymph nodesMyelodysplastic syndromes
... bone marrowN
Necrotizing fasciitis
... skinNeurodermatitis
... skinNeurofibromatosis-1
... skinNon-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
... lymph nodes, immuneO
Open Wound
... skinOsteomyelitis
... bone marrowP
Peanut allergies
... immune systemPemphigus
... skinPemphigus Foliaceus
... skinPemphigus Vulgaris
... skinPenicillin allergy
... immune systemPharyngitis
... tonsilsPhotosensitivity
... skinPityriasis rubra pilaris
... skinPOEMS
... immunePorphyria
... skinPossibly Autoimmune Diseases
... immune systemPrimary Immune Deficiency
... immune systemPsoriasis
... skinR
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome
... skinRespiratory diphtheria
... tonsilsRhinophyma
... skinRosacea
... skinS
Sarcoidosis
... spleen, skin, lymph nodesScabies
... skinSCID
... immune systemSclerodactyly
... skinScleroderma
... skinSebaceous cyst
... skinSeborrheic keratosis
... skinSelective IgA Deficiency
... immune systemSkin allergies
... immune system, skinSkin Cancer
... skinSkin conditions
... skinSkin rash
... skinSpleen conditions
... spleenSporotrichosis
... skin, lymph nodesStevens-Johnson Syndrome
... skinT
Thymus Cancer
... immune, thymusThymus disorders
... thymusTinea
... skinTonsil cancer
... tonsilsTonsil disorders
... tonsilsTonsilitis
... tonsilsU
Urticaria
... skinV
Vitiligo
... skinW
Warts
... skinX
X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia
... white blood cells, immune system
» Next page:
Inferior vena cava
Rate This Website
What do you think about the features of this website?
Take our user survey and have your say:
Website User Survey
Medical Tools & Articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
- Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
