Exercise Physiology: Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance 9th Edition by Scott Powers, Edward Howley

Exercise 3

List the primary components of the acquired immune system (e.g., B-cells, antibodies, and T-cells), and explain how they protect against infection.

Step 1 of 3

Acquired immunity is the immunity an individual develops after birth. It is also called adaptive immunity or specific immunity, as a specific immune response is generated against each and every pathogen. The system provides immunity against any type of infection, but it mainly aims at eliminating virus that cannot be contained by the innate immunity. The following are the cells that are mainly concerned with the acquired immunity:

• T cells: They mature in the thymus and hence the name T cells or T lymphocytes

• B cells: They mature in the bone marrow and hence the name B cells