The immune system consists of specific and nonspecific components that have distinct, yet overlapping functions. These two entities are known as the adaptive and the innate immune systems. The antibody-mediated and cell-mediated immune systems (parts of the adaptive immune system) provide specificity and a memory of previously encountered antigens.
Phagocytic cells and complement proteins (parts of the innate immune system) are nonspecific cellular mechanisms and nonspecific plasma factors, respectively. Despite their lack of specificity, these components are essential because they are responsible for the natural immunity to a vast array of environmental microorganisms.
A. Antibody-mediated immunity
B. Cell-mediated immunity
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