In today’s modern world, we’re products of a highly technological age, surrounded by machines designed to function every possible purpose. The list of mechanical miracles is endless: dishwashers, refrigerators, phones, computers, cars – all have become commonplace in our everyday lives.

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In actuality, it’s hard to imagine going with no modern conveniences. Unfortunately, when a machine breaks down, it doesn’t have the capability to fix itself, regardless of how progress or well-designed it might be. We have to either replace the product, or seek the support of a person with specialized knowledge to correct the faulty machine.

But one machine does exist which includes its very own built in and highly specialized repair mechanism: The body. Through an organic as opposed to technological miracle, the human body is nonetheless a complex and complex system, made all the more remarkable because every individual is different and distinctive.

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When the body” breaks “, falling prey to disease and illness, it’s impossible to just go out and replace it with a new one. Luckily, the body comes equipped with its own mechanism of protection and fix in the kind of a complex immune system. The immune system is a complicated network of organs and cells, not confined to any one area of their body. It’s programmed to fight off any foreign material that threatens the health of the human body.

Moreover, the immune system clears away dead cells and destroys parasitic or modified cells that could become cancerous. It’s only within the past 30 years that scientists have begun to gain even a basic understanding of this precious and intricate system. Two major components of the immune system include the bone marrow (which produces white blood cells or leukocytes, that circulate throughout the body to detect and destroy harmful substances) and the thymus (a small organ located above the heart that acts as a kind of training centre for immune cells).

T cells

Specialized cells of the immune system include B cells (which produce antibodies against infectious agents), T cells (which are especially trained from the thymus to comprehend the particular invaders), natural killer cells (which miracle throughout the body and attack cancerous cells) and phagocytes like the monocyte and macrophage; also called “eating cells” (which engulf and destroy microorganisms and debris).

Together, these many cells produce a powerful defense against any material that threatens the health of the human body. In 1979, immunologist Edwin Blalock found that immune cells produce several hormones that enable the immune system to coordinate its actions with the bodys’ other systems. All these systems work in tandem to keep us healthy and shield us from danger of foreign substances. The human body is a marvelous but irreplaceable machine and the job of the immune system is to supply the body with superior protection, helping this system to last a longlong time.