Video 12 Innate Immunity and Adaptive Immunity

12) The innate and adaptive immune systems

Our immune system is made up of two distinct types of immune protection: innate immunity and acquired (adaptive) immunity.

The innate immune system is concerned with keeping harmful invaders from penetrating into the body. The adaptive immune system is a more complex response to invaders that do penetrate into the body, primarily through an inflammation response.

Let's begin with innate immunity, which is something we are born with and does not continuously change as does the adaptive immune system. Innate immune protection is always present in exposed parts of the body most vulnerable to the outside environment, such as our eyes, skin, nose, mouth, lungs and digestive system. Mast cells and natural killer cells play dominant roles in our innate immune defenses.

The second type of immune protection in the human body is our acquired immunity, which is also know as the adaptive immune system because it has the ability to adapt to recognize and fight new antigens. Since our environment is full of countless invading substances, that are biologically evolving and changing all the time, it is essential to our survival that we have a defense system that is capable of adapting to the changing threats as they occur. When we encounter a foreign substance, our adaptive immune cells jump into action. Unique white cells are then developed to destroy the foreign invader and also to remember it for the future. This process in the adaptive immune system is called immunization.

[katerynasmith]

we need more videos on other body systems!! keep up a good work