So Really,
What IS the Immune System?

We all have a rough idea of what the immune system does, but what is the immune system, really? What, exactly, does it do, and how does it do it?

The Immune System

Simply put, the immune system is a collection of various mechanisms within a single, living organism. The purpose of the immune system is to prevent disease.

Your immune system prevents disease by identifying and killing tumor cells and pathogens, including various viruses and even parasitic worms.

In order to function properly, then, it stands to reason that the immune system must be able to properly distinguish healthy living cells from pathogens.

However, pathogens are constantly evolving and growing stronger, exactly because of how strong the immune systems of complex living organisms have to be to detect and fight disease and parasites.

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In vertebrates, such as mammals and birds, the immune system consists of various proteins, organs, tissues and cells working together to fight disease, tumors and parasites. Over time, a vertebrate's immune system actually changes and adapts, to more easily run their "search and destroy" missions on unsuspecting pathogens.

This is the purpose of vaccines. It's said that you can't catch the exact same virus twice, because the immune system sort of adds that virus to its "criminal database", and is able to immediately spot and destroy it upon next contact.

Vaccines

A vaccine, then, is a dose of dead virus, allowing your immune system to learn about a certain disease and be ready when it meets the living, real deal virus.

There has actually been some controversy over vaccination, however there has not been a single recorded case of smallpox since 1977. Smallpox has been rendered extinct by vaccination, and, with a bit of luck, we may see the same happening to other diseases, as well.

The above should take care of any questions you have regarding what is the immune system, but one more thing should be mentioned. Your immune system takes care of you, and you should return the favor. Get your share of daily exercise, proper diet and lots of water.

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