What are the different types of immune systems? Immune system refers to the body’s capacity to defend itself against various diseases and pathogenic processes. Ayurveda defines immunity as a person’s ability to resist infection or disease. The modern concept of immunity is closer to this definition. Everybody has their own immune system. However, it is generally accepted that the immune system becomes more robust during adulthood as the body is exposed to many more pathogens.
The skin is the largest organ of the immune system, covering the whole body. It functions as an important physical barrier against harmful substances. Hence, it is essential for the immune system to keep it protected from damage. Lymphatic fluid is filled with immune system cells, signaling molecules, and other immune components. This fluid travels from the blood into the tissues and collects debris and pathogens. Those immune cells then travel to the draining lymph nodes, where they are filtered.
The immune system can be classified into two major categories: healthy and pathological states, and foreign elements. Individual lymphocytes act as cellular computers and turn input signals into specific immune reactions. Swarms of immune cells make collective decisions and co-react in the lymphoid organs. Individual regulators regulate these decisions. Collective inflammatory responses are dynamic. Hence, it is not possible to study the immune system in isolation, but we must understand how it operates in the body.
