The Body's Defense at Work
The body's defense system(the immune system) has many decks, checks and balances. Too little of it and it will not perform the desired function and too much, it will destroy the body. The first barrier to infection portal into the body is the keratin which covers the largest organ of the body, the skin; and the internal equivalent surface covering is protected by mucus alone or with cilia that keeps intruders at bay.Tears and saliva have their role to play. Epithelial cells serete an antibiotic called defensin which kills pathogens that attempt to break through this barrier. Of course, clot, following trauma, sequesters and prevents microbes from spreading in the body. There are 10 times more microbes in our gut, respiratory tract, on our skin and the other orifices than are our own human cells. These attach to the their lining and prevent more virulent(disease-causing) counterparts from gaining foot-hole, multiplying and causing harm to our body cells. Our body recogn...