1. The Immune System By Luke Carter

2. Main Organs of the Immune System: Thymus Spleen Lymph Nodes Bone Marrow

3. The main function of the immune system is to protect the body from harmful pathogens. It accomplishes this through a series of organs that kill any harmful organisms within the body. Without the immune system, the human body would be at constant risk of disease and invasion by malevolent parasites. Simple activities such as swimming in a lake, or playing in the mud, would all become life-threatening without the immune system.

4. The Thymus The Thymus is an organ whose job is to produce cells to fight off infection. Its role in the process of creating these cells is to provide a place for them to mature. The cells originate in the bone marrow and then relocate to the thymus where they fully mature. After this, the cells are sent throughout the body to fight infection.

5. Spleen The spleen is an organ whose main functions are to filter used blood and store cells that fight bacteria. As blood travels through the spleen, used red blood cells are filtered out. The spleen also helps store white blood cells that are used for destroying harmful bacteria in the body. The spleen can be removed and have the body continue to function. However, one’s ability to fight infections will be slightly reduced if the spleen is not present.

6. Lymph Nodes The Lymph Nodes filter out any microorganisms or other substances picked up by the lymphocytes, which are infection fighting cells. During an infection the lymph nodes become noticeably swelled and red. This is because during an infection the need to filter lymph becomes much more prevalent. Due to their role in removing outside organisms, the lymph nodes are essential in protecting the body from sickness.

7. Bone Marrow The bone marrow produces many white blood cells whose job is to destroy bacteria and other unwanted organisms within the body. Because of this function, the immune system could not function effectively without the bone marrow.

8. Work cited Cover Image: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Immune+System&FORM= HDRSC2#view=detail&id=68938ABF45C7FEC37DFEADC763DDE5F 3B5476169&selectedIndex=25 http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Immune+System&FORM= HDRSC2#view=detail&id=68938ABF45C7FEC37DFEADC763DDE5F 3B5476169&selectedIndex=25 Thymus Image: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Thymus&FORM=HDRSC2# view=detail&id=010B9AF56B7B8B9DCDF7376DEDE49EA83A36458 0&selectedIndex=2 Spleen Image: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=spleen&id=010B9AF56B7B 8B9DCDF74A42B68484E769CDE0A0&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail &id=010B9AF56B7B8B9DCDF74A42B68484E769CDE0A0&selectedI ndex=0 http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=spleen&id=010B9AF56B7B 8B9DCDF74A42B68484E769CDE0A0&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail &id=010B9AF56B7B8B9DCDF74A42B68484E769CDE0A0&selectedI ndex=0

9. Work Cited continued Lymph Nodes Image: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Lymph+Nodes&id=A25 771A7BF5CA0EDD6B6254A790CEB1505E99561&FORM=IQFRBA #view=detail&id=A25771A7BF5CA0EDD6B6254A790CEB1505E 99561&selectedIndex=0 Bone Marrow Image http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=bone+marrow&FORM= HDRSC2#view=detail&id=76CE3D343FEF73278DF04280D8372 C611CA8EC49&selectedIndex=57