The nervous system interacts with the immune system because the brain controls when and how the immune system responds to viruses, bacteria, and fungi. When we cut ourselves, the first line of defense (skin) has been broken. This means the phagocytes need to come into play to protect us from the pathogens that have invaded our body. Our brain controls this reaction in order to stop the pathogen from advancing any further into our body, so when we need an antibody to kill off the pathogen, our brain signals the B cells and the T cells to come. B cells are made in bone marrow. T cells are also produced in the bone marrow but leave and mature in the thymus. B cells receive an antigen from the pathogen so it can make a special antibody to kill that specific pathogen. That's why we never get the same cold twice, because our body knows what antibody to use. Still making this antibody can take weeks because it takes a long time to concoct the right "potion." Killing a pathogen is like learning how to read, it takes a little while to master, but eventually you will know how to read and never forget it. Our brain learns how to fight off pathogens everyday, when you get a paper cut or even when you eat some spoiled food.
The nervous system interacts with the immune system because the brain controls when and how the immune system responds to viruses, bacteria, and fungi. When we cut ourselves, the first line of defense (skin) has been broken. This means the phagocytes need to come into play to protect us from the pathogens that have invaded our body. Our brain controls this reaction in order to stop the pathogen from advancing any further into our body, so when we need an antibody to kill off the pathogen, our brain signals the B cells and the T cells to come. B cells are made in bone marrow. T cells are also produced in the bone marrow but leave and mature in the thymus. B cells receive an antigen from the pathogen so it can make a special antibody to kill that specific pathogen. That's why we never get the same cold twice, because our body knows what antibody to use. Still making this antibody can take weeks because it takes a long time to concoct the right "potion." Killing a pathogen is like learning how to read, it takes a little while to master, but eventually you will know how to read and never forget it. Our brain learns how to fight off pathogens everyday, when you get a paper cut or even when you eat some spoiled food.
By Carys OKL
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