Our Amazing Bodies

Here on the Amazing Bodies page, our School Nurse Kiera Heasly shares an amazing fact about the human body.

Did You Know?

You have tiny superheroes living inside your body? They’re not wearing capes, but they are protecting you every single day and these special fighter cells help make up your immune system!

 

What is the immune system?

 

It’s your body’s special defence team. It uses special cells and proteins to fight off germs like viruses and bacteria that can make you sick. Some of your body’s organs and these special cells work together 24/7 as your body’s invisible army to keep you healthy!

Meet the Heroes

Innate Immune System (I was born with it)

  • Skin, Mucous membranes and Cilia – These are the body’s physical barriers that shield or trap germs to prevent them entering.

  • Tears, Sweat, Saliva, Stomach acid and Mucous – are your body’s chemical barriers that kill or help trap germs before they can enter.

  • White Blood Cells (Leukocytes) – Contain specialised cells called phagocytes and natural killer cells. These are the body’s main fighters of your innate immune system. They travel through your blood looking for invaders to destroy. When they find them, phagocytes go into attack mode and like Pacman rush around eating up as many germs as they can find. Our natural killer cells work by releasing cytotoxins, which destroy the germs cells surface!

Adaptive Immune System (Special Forces deployed to stop specific germs that have evaded your innate immune system)

  • T-Cells – This group of cells are super smart. They help recognize germs and tell other cells how to fight them, after infection some of these cells stick around as memory cells which can act fast if the same germ cells show up again to help you not get sick again.

  • B-Cells – Make antibodies, which bind to germ cells and act like special “wanted posters” to help your body find and destroy germs fast, some B-Cells also stick around as memory cells to help next time there is a potential invasion!

Extra Fact!

When you get a fever, it’s actually your immune system at work! A higher body temperature helps fight off the bad guys. So next time you feel under the weather and are running a little warm, just remember - your body’s superheroes are on the job!

 

So how can you help your immune system?

  • Wash your hands often
  • Eat your fruits and veggies
  • Stay hydrated
  • Get plenty of sleep
  • Stay active and play outside in the fresh air

 

Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279364/ 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279396/ 

 

Kiera Heasly

ENPS School Nurse

Kiera Heasly, School Nurse
Kiera Heasly, School Nurse

 


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