C5 - LESSON 1: LYMPHOID ORGANS Flashcards
Largest tissue of the body (adult: 1300 to 1500g)
Bone Marrow
Main source of hematopoietic stem cells
Bone Marrow
Can differentiate into lymphocytes and other hematopoietic cells such as granulocytes, erythrocytes, and megakaryocyte population.
Bone Marrow
Center for antigen independent lymphopoiesis
Bone Marrow
B cell maturation takes place within the bone marrow itself
Bone Marrow
Small, flat, bilobed organ found in the thorax or chest cavity, right below the thyroid gland and overlying the heart.
Thymus
Weighs an average of 30g at birth, reaches about 35 g at puberty, and then gradually atrophies
Thymus
Although the thymus diminishes in size, it is still capable of producing T lymphocytes until at least the fifth or sixth decade of life.
Thymus
Progenitor cells that migrate to the thymus proliferate and differentiate under the influence of the humoral factor-(?)
thymosin
- lymphocyte precursors with acquired surface membrane antigens
Thymocytes
Surface antigens are acquired as the lymphocytes travel from the cortex to the medulla over a period of 2 to 3 weeks.
Thymus
Progenitors of T cells appear in the fetus as early as 8 weeks in the gestational period - essential to acquisition of immunocompetence by the time the infant is born.
Thymus
Secondary Lymphoid Organs
act as lymphoid filters in the lymphatic system
Lymph nodes
Lymph fluid flows slowly through spaces called (?), which are lined with macrophages, creating an ideal location for phagocytosis to take place.
sinuses
respond to antigens introduced distally and routed to them by afferent lymphatics
Lymph nodes
Generalized lymph node reactivity can occur after (?) (e.g., serum sickness)
systemic antigen challenge
Lymph nodes Primary function:
generation of B cell memory
The Lymph nodes tissue is organized into:
Contains macrophages and aggregations of B cells in primary follicles
Outer cortex
These are mature, resting B cells that have not been exposed to antigens.
Outer cortex
Specialized cells called follicular dendritic cells are also located here
Outer cortex
Region between the follicles and medulla where T lymphocytes are mainly localized
Paracortex
T lymphocytes are in close proximity to antigen-presenting cells called interdigitating cells
Paracortex
Particulate antigens are removed as the fluid travels across the node from cortex to medulla.
Inner medulla
The transit time through a lymph node is approximately 18 hours.
Inner medulla
If contact with antigen takes place, lymphocyte traffic shuts down due to the proliferation of activated cells.
Inner medulla
Accumulation of lymphocytes and other cells causes the lymph nodes to become enlarged, a condition known as lymphadenopathy.
Inner medulla
Recirculation of expanded numbers of lymphocytes then occurs.
Inner medulla
Largest secondary lymphoid organ
Spleen
It is an important site of antibody production in response to IV particulate antigens (e.g., bacteria)
Spleen
acts as a lymphatic filter within the blood vascular tree
Spleen
Two main types of splenic tissue:
removes old and damaged cells and foreign antigens from the blood.
Spleen
Makes up more than one-half of the total volume
Red pulp
Red pulp Function:
to destroy old red blood cells
20% of the total weight of the spleen
White pulp
Contains lymphoid tissue- arranged around arterioles in a periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALS)
White pulp
- contains mainly T cells
PALS
- attached to the sheath
Primary follicles
contains B cells that are not yet stimulated by antigens
Primary follicles
- surrounds the PALS containing dendritic cells that trap antigen
Marginal zone
includes lymphoid tissue in the intestines (Peyer’s patches) and the liver
GALT (Gut-associated lymphoid tissue)
features immunoglobulin A (IgA) production and involves a unique pattern of lymphocyte recirculation.
GALT (Gut-associated lymphoid tissue)
important for the development of tolerance to ingested antigen
GALT (Gut-associated lymphoid tissue)