NUR 2063 Week 2 lecture Notes - University of South Florida

NUR 2063 Week 2 Lecture Notes – University of South Florida The body’s immune system functions to protect the body from invaders, which compromise the integrity of the host. The process of establishing immunity is complex and multi-factorial. Additionally, the body has various organs that act as defense; refer to the photo above. Organs, clusters of nodes and cellular structures work in concert to protect the body. Specialized cells, such as white blood cells search and tag invading antigens; the process of tagging the antigens then allows macrophage to destroy that specific invader. Through the process of antibody production and circulating cells, which work to eliminate invaders, disease prevention occurs. Specialized cells in the body act to search and destroy invaders while other cells interact with and identify invaders to create antibodies to the invader (antigen). Different types of immunity modify the host; passive immunity and active immunity. Active immunity affects the body after having a disease or immunization against the disease. Examples of this are having the diseases of measles or mump or receiving an immunization against the disease of measles. The immunization process introduces the disease to allow the body to develop antibodies against it. Passive immunity is a result of the transfer of antibodies from one immune individual to another, such as infant receiving antibodies from the mother, either across the placenta or through the breast milk. Study of inflammation within the body is a result of many people with inflammatory disease. The process of inflammation withi