BODY'S LINES OF DEFENCE: When we talk about immunity in the human body, we are meaning the ability to fight emerging infections, and it is a necessity for every one to be alive. The human body is a complex system that comes in contact with microbes on a daily basis some of which are the deadliest ever known such as; The hemorrhagic fever viruses, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and HIV. To spot a few examples like human contacts with fellows, fomites and the rest of the environment is to say nothing but the truth is that, the human body it's self is a home to millions of infectious agents some of which we end up calling normal flora or in other words, the human microbiome. You can click here to continue reading about the normal flora. In that respect, it is very easy for microbes to be introduced in the body via the skin, the oral cavity or through the respiratory system.
Our safety when it comes to microbes lies behind the ability of our bodies to recognize and destroy if possible any emerging microbes and or, develop immunity against such foreign bodies. But it isn't that easy because everyday, there comes new and totally new antigens never met by our immune surveillance. Yet even without that, the process of mutation and evolution keeps several known microbes change their rate of infectiousness via alterations of there genomes, again leaving the human body still prone to millions of infectious agents. In our discussion here, we are going to look at the layers of defense as they are naturally gifted to the human body.
THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE: The body's first line of defense are the barriers that covers the whole of it. These include skin, one of the largest organ and system in the body and then the mucous membranes that are in the body openings. Mucous membranes are present in the mouth, in the eyes, and around the anal and virginal canals. The skin and it's integrity helps shielding the body from invaders and as long as it is intact, no microbe will be able to penetrate it except with use of penetrating sharp instruments. This is one reason disinfectants are rubbed on any area where a venipuncture is going to be made. On the other hand, mucous membranes are equipped with secretory immunoglobulins that are able to fight invading microbes. You can click here to read more about Immunoglobulins.
THE SECOND LINE: The body's second line of defense is inflammation. The inflammatory process in the body aims at recruitment of immune cells that can fight infection at the sight of inoculation. Where there is inflammation, the rapid and continuous inflow of blood comes with big numbers of white blood cells with an aim of eliminating if possible, the infectious agent. I have discussed about inflammation in the previous articles and if you want to read about it, click here.
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