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For the immune system, lifeis hard. It is a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, 52-weeks-a-year battle against awell-equipped and persistent army trying to harm your health. The immune system neverrests and must always be on red alert. It takes no furloughs.

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The soldiers who make up the immune system comefrom and are found in a diverse collection of organs. Although the components, when takentogether, weigh only about two pounds (900 g), these two pounds are integral in keepingthe scale of good health balanced.

The sentries

The largest and most easily seen component of the immune systemis the skin. The skin is a physical barrier against pathogens—harmful bacteria,viruses, and fungi—and also a chemical barrier: the skin’s natural acidity is apoor environment for invaders.

The mucous membranes are the sentries at the gates of our body: the openings of theeyes, sinuses, mouth, and so on. They secrete mucus, which both cleans away and trapspathogens. If bacteria should progress through the mouth or nose and into the stomach, itis still difficult for them to get into the blood. They must survive the stomach, which tothem is a poisonous torture chamber of acids and digestive enzymes.

Within the gates

When a pathogen breaches a gate and enters the body, othercomponents of the immune system—white blood cells—go to work. One type of whiteblood cell, a phagocyte, is like the skin in that it counters all invaders. Other types ofwhite blood cells, in the class known as lymphocytes, are programmed to go after onlycertain pathogens. The various types of white blood cells all work in different ways, butthey all need each other to complete the job of protecting the body.

Phagocytes

Phagocytes ("cell eaters") arelarge white blood cells that engulf and digest pathogens. An important type of phagocyteis monocytes, which circulate throughout the body looking for trouble—looking forpathogens. When monocytes get into tissue, they develop into macrophages ("bigeaters"). Macrophages are positioned throughout body tissue and are oftenspecialized: you might say some have an appetite for pathogens found in the lungs, whileothers prefer the taste of those found in the kidneys. Macrophages also are the"sweepers" of the body, as they dispose of worn out cells.

Other phagocytes are granulocytes. Of these, mast cells are found in the tissue, andneutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils are found in the blood.

Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes are small white blood cellsthat travel through the lymph system. They are not able to attack just any pathogen, asphagocytes are. They are programmed to go after specific pathogens. They also bear themajor responsibility for the actions of the immune system.

The two major classes of lymphocytes are B cells, which reach maturity in the bone,and T cells, which reach maturity in the thymus. Both of these recognize specificpathogens.

B cells work by producing, transporting, and secreting antibodies. Upon meeting apathogen, B cells begin dividing and releasing antibodies, which seek out and destroy thepathogen. Immune system components known as "complements" also aid theantibodies in destroying pathogens.

Each B cell makes one specific antibody for one specific pathogen. If a B cell meetsanother pathogen, nothing can be done. One type of T cell, a helper T cell, must beinvolved for a B cell to destroy pathogens.

T cells can help B cells or other T cells, or directly attack pathogens. When theydirectly attack the pathogen, they are known as cytotoxic T cells. Another important Tcell is the natural killer (NK). These T cells are similar to phagocytes in that they donot need to recognize a pathogen to swing into action. They are important in targetingtumor cells.

There are also suppressor T cells, which act as the referee in the battle. When theimmune system has won a battle, the suppressor T cells call off the troops.

Other Players

Bone marrow: The soft tissue in the center of bones cells, including white blood cells.

Thymus: The thymus fosters development of  T cells.

Lymphatic vessels: The lymphatic vessels are arteries that carry white blood cells throughout the body.

Lymphatic nodes and the spleen: The nodes and spleen are both "stopping pints" for white