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Our immune system has different lines of defense to protect us from the pathogens that are all around us. Some of these defenses are innate, which are nonspecific and with us from birth. Other responses are adaptive, as our body can recognize specific pathogens that we've encountered before and destroy it faster. The innate immune responses are our first and second lines of defense. The skin and mucosa, normal flora, chemicals (interferons) and mechanical barriers are the first line that are there to prevent pathogens from getting into the body and flush them out, if they do enter. "Physical barriers play an important role in preventing microbes from reaching tissues that are susceptible to infection," (Parker et.al., 2026, p. 685). Next, the second line of defense, still our innate immune responses, are the phagocytic cells, inflammation, and complement system. When we get a cut, for example, phagocytes rush to the injury to find and destroy any unknown pathogens, histamine is released, extra fluid (inflammation) helps to keep that injury where it is and prevent any bad bacteria from getting further into the body. Our third line of defense, now our adaptive immune responses, are our B-cells, antibodies, and T-cells. The adaptive immune system takes exposure first, but it's specific and destroys pathogens quicker. The first time our bodies are introduced to a pathogen, the cells figure out how to kill that pathogen and the adaptive immune system's B cells create antibodies that are specific to the pathogen it has encountered before. The next time the pathogen is recognized in the body, the T cells are responsible for ensuring destruction of the cells that have became infected by the pathogen so that it doesn't spread to other cells. Need Assignment Help?