Page 55 - The Miracle of the Immune System

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Organs Employed In Defence

Contribution To War
When a microbial infection or any other malady develops in the
body, the body mounts a defensive attack on this enemy, prodding the

warrior cells to multiply. At such moments, the spleen enhances lympho-
cyte and macrophage production. Thus, the spleen also participates in the
"emergency operation" that is launched at times when disease could harm
the human body.

Another Production Centre: The Lymph Nodes

In the human body, there is a police force and a police intelligence or-
ganization scattered throughout the body. In this system, there are also
police stations which have policemen on guard, and which produce new
policemen when required.
This system is the lymphatic system and the police stations are the
lymph nodes. The policemen of the system are lymphocytes.
The lymphatic system as it stands is a miracle performed for the ben-
efit of mankind. This system comprises of lymphatic vessels that are dif-

fused throughout the body, lymph nodes that are located at certain spots
on these vessels, the lymphocytes produced by lymph nodes, which pa-
trol in the lymphatic vessels, and the lymph fluid circulating in the lym-
phatic vessels in which lymphocytes swim.
The system works as follows: The lymph fluid in the lymphatic ves-
sels spread throughout the body makes contact with the tissues located
around the capillary lymphatic vessels. The lymph fluid that returns to
the lymphatic vessels right after this contact brings along some informa-
tion about these tissues. These pieces of information are transmitted to the
nearest lymph node located on the lymphatic vessels. If any hostile action
has started in the tissues, its knowledge is forwarded to the lymph node

through the lymph fluid.
In case any danger is sensed following the examination of the nature
of the enemy, an alarm is given. At this point, the rapid production of lym-