Final answer:
The adaptive immune system is the body's specific defense system that issues an attack tailored to particular foreign substances. It provides a highly specific and effective response to substances and organisms that do not belong in the body, and it has a memory system for long-term protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The adaptive immune system is the body's second line of defense against invading pathogens. It is a specific defense system that issues an attack tailored to particular foreign substances. The adaptive immune system takes longer to respond compared to the innate immune system, but it provides a highly specific and effective response to substances and organisms that do not belong in the body. The system also has a memory system that allows it to respond with greater intensity if the body reencounters a pathogen in the future.