Anatomy of the Immune System Flashcards
Where are T cells produced?
Bone marrow
What are the key cells in adaptive immunity?
T cells and B cells
Where are T cells selected?
Thymus
Where do T cells exit?
Lymphatics
What are aggregates of lymph nodes?
B cells
T cells
APCs
What do lymph nodes decide?
When and where immune responses need to occur.
Where are lymph nodes centered around in the body?
Nose
Mouth
Lungs
Gut
What are the key areas of lymph nodes?
Germinal centre
Paracortical area
Parafollicular area
Medullary cords
What does the germinal centre mostly contain?
B cells
What does the paracortical centre mostly contain?
T cells
What does the medullary cords mostly contain?
Plasma cells
What is the main point of entry in lymph nodes?
Afferent lymphatic vessels
(T cells enter via HEVs)
What is the main point of exit in lymph nodes for those that recognises antigen?
Efferent lymphatic vessel
Where in the lymph node does the interaction between B cells/T cells and dendritic cells occur?
Follicular region
What are other lymphatic organs?
Spleen
Peyer’s patch (gut)
Not all recognise antigen, those that do not exit lymph node via…?
Cortical sinuses
What are Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs)
Used by the innate immune system to detect molecules from pathogens or damages cells.
What are Patterns Associated Molecule Patterns (PAMPs)?
Molecules that are shared by most pathogenic bacteria and some viruses
What are Damages Associated Molecular Pattern (DAMPs)?
Molecules released from damaged or dying cells that activate the innate immune system by interacting with pattern recognition receptors (PRRs).
What inflammatory mediator allows communication between cells so that the right cells can be activated to destroy invading pathogens?
Cytokines
What are examples of cytokines involved in inflammation?
IL-1
TNF-alpha
What is the role of chemokines in innate immunity?
Attracting cells to the site of infection
