Modern Immunology http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/principles/modernimmune.

html

Hom e > Bas ic Principle s > The Im m une Sys te m & Chine s e M e dicine >
M ode rn Im m unology

M ode rn Immunology

Immunology is a study of about how the body identif ies f oreign bodies and reacts
to them. In essence it is the study about the body's self def ense mechanisms. The
w ord "immunology" came f rom Latin "immunis", w hich w as originally a law
concept, and means "not subject to an obligation imposed on others"; e.g. immune
f rom taxation. At f irst, immunology concentrated on studying anti-inf ection aspects
only, w hich belonged to a branch of microbiology. In the 1960's, the rapid
advancement of immunology expanded to include non-inf ectious aspects, such as
autoimmune, allergy and immunodef iciency, consequently it became an individual
science.

According to modern theory, the body depends on the immune system to f ight
against various inf ections f rom bacteria, microbes, viruses, toxins and parasites. It
also clears up harmf ul materials inside our ow n body. The w hole process can be
understood as self -discrimination and elimination of f oreign bodies in an attempt to
create an internal equilibrium and provide physiological protection f or the body.
Thus, w hen the immune system is normal, health can be maintained. On the other
hand, w hen the immune system is malf unctioning, disharmony w ill occur and give
rise to illness. The above f unctions are carried out by an integrated body system,
w hich includes organs (thymus, spleen and lymph nodes), tissues (skin and
mucosal layers), cells (lymph cells and macrophages) and cell products
(immunoglobulin, antibodies and complement).

To sum it up, the human immune system has three basic f unctions: def ense,
surveillance and homeostasis.

The Immune Org ans of the Body

TOP

1 of 1 09/10/2017, 13:37