What Are the Components of the Immune System?
The major components of the immune system are: • Antibodies — Antibodies (also referred to as immunoglobulins and gammaglobulins) are are Y-shaped proteins that respond to specific bacteria, viruses or toxins, called antigens. They are produced by white blood cells. Antibodies can bind to toxins, disabling their chemical actions or signal that an invader needs to be removed. These antibodies are divided into five classes. Their names are generally abbreviated. For instance, Immunoglobulin A is abbreviated IgA. Here are all of the abbreviations: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM. • Bone marrow — Bone marrow produces new red and white blood cells. Red blood cells are fully formed in the marrow and then enter the bloodstream. Most white blood cells mature elsewhere, however, in factories located inside the long bones of our bodies. The marrow produces all blood cells from stem cells. They are called “stem cells” because they are precursors to different cell types. They can branch off and chan
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