Our bodies are exposed to numerous external influences every day. Bacteria, viruses and other potential contaminants lurk everywhere – in the air, in food or on surfaces. We have a sophisticated protective system to thank for the fact that we don’t constantly fall ill: our immune system. But many people don’t know that it consists of two closely interlinked but fundamentally different parts: the innate and the acquired immune system.
In this article, we explain how these two “defense arms” function and how they work together.
The innate immune system
The innate immune system (also known as the non-specific immune system) is our first protective shield. It is active from birth and reacts particularly quickly to intruders.
The most important characteristics:
- Fast reaction: It recognizes foreign structures within minutes to hours.
- Broad-based: It does not differentiate between different pathogens, but fights them all according to a similar principle.
- Physical barriers such as the skin or mucous membranes are also part of the innate immune defense.
This defense works constantly in the background – like an early warning system.
The acquired immune system
The acquired immune system (also known as the specific immune system) develops over the course of our lives through contact with certain pathogens. It learns to memorize these “enemies” and to react faster and more specifically when it comes into contact with them again.
The most important characteristics:
- Targeted defense: It forms specific antibodies against known pathogens.
- Immunological memory: The body remembers pathogens in the long term – this is the basis for vaccinations, for example.
- The reaction time is slower, but more effective in the long term with repeated contact.
This system makes our body particularly adaptable – a kind of “individual protective measure” that becomes increasingly precise over the course of our lives.
Two systems, one goal
The immune system is a well-coordinated team: the innate system quickly detects potential dangers and alerts the acquired system. The latter reacts in a targeted manner – especially in the case of known “intruders”.
Both systems are closely interlinked. Without the innate system, the body might not even notice that a defense reaction is necessary. And without the acquired system, the body would not be able to permanently remember certain pathogens. Only together do they form a strong line of defense for our body.
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