Immune System: Innate and Adaptive Immunity Explained

Our body has a powerful army that protects it from various types of threats.

These threats can come in the form of mechanical injuries, the entry of germs, or the entry

of other foreign particles like dust.

This personal army is called the immune system.

Every day, we encounter a huge number of bacteria, viruses and other disease-causing organisms.

However, we don't fall ill every other day.

which is due to our immune system - an army of cells that is always roaming our body,

ready to ward off any attack.

The immune system can be broadly divided into two parts - innate and adaptive immunity.

Innate immunity or non-specific immunity is the body's first natural defense to any intruder.

This system doesn't care what it's killing.

Its primary goal is to prevent any intruder from entering the body, and if it does enter,

then the immune system kills this intruder.

It doesn't differentiate between one pathogen and another.

The first component of this defensive system is your skin.

Any organism trying to get into the body is stopped by the skin, our largest organ, which

covers us.

Secondly, there is the mucous lining of all our organs.

The sticky, viscous fluid of this lining traps any pathogens trying to get past it.

These are the physical barriers.

However, we also have chemical barriers, such as the lysozyme in the eyes, or the acid in