HOW THE BODY FIGHTS GERMS
The human body has an immune system, made up of special cells, proteins, tissues and organs, that protects the body from germs. When harmful germs and substances that cause disease attack parts of the body, the immune system comes to the rescue! The cells that make up this defense system are leukocytes, or white blood cells. These cells are produced or stored in many places throughout the body.
There are two basic types of leukocytes that work together to find and destroy and disease causing organism in the body: phagocytes and lymphocytes. Phagocytes are cells that chew up invading organisms. Lymphocytes are cells that let the body remember and recognize harmful organisms that have invaded the body before and help the body destroy them. Both of these types of leukocytes circulate through the body, constantly looking for germs and substances that might cause problems.