Chapter 21: Lymphatic and Immune Flashcards
List the functions of the lymphatic system
Fluid recovery, immunity, and lipid absorption
Describe how the lymphatic system aids in fluid recovery
-Fluid continually filters from the blood capillaries into the tissue spaces
-15% (~3 L/day) of enter the lymphatic system
-Any lost plasma proteins, chemicals, pathogens washed into lymphatic system
Describe how the lymphatic system aids in immunity
Fluid passes through lymph nodes where immune cells activates a protective immune response
Describe how the lymphatic system aids in lipid absorption
Lacteals in the small intestine absorb dietary lipids that are not absorbed by the blood capillaries
What are the 4 main components of the lymphatic system?
Lymph, lymphatic vessels, lymphatic tissues, and lymphatic organs
What are aggregates of lymphocytes and macrophages that populate many organs called?
Lymphatic tissues
What contains a concentration of defense cells and is separated from surrounding organs by connective tissue capsules?
Lymphatic organs
Describe lymph
-A clear, colorless fluid, similar to plasma, but much less protein
-Originates as interstitial fluid drawn into lymphatic capillaries
-Chemical composition varies in different places (in intestines, after lymph nodes)
How does lymph differ from plasma?
It has much less protein
What does lymph originate as?
Originates as interstitial fluid drawn into lymphatic capillaries
True or false: the chemical composition of lymph varies in different places (in intestines, after lymph nodes)
True
Lymphatic vessels are a one-way system that flows towards what?
The heart
What is the order of movement of lymph through the lymphatic vessels?
1) Lymphatic capillaries
2) Lymphatic collecting vessels
3) Lymphatic trunks
4) Lymphatic ducts
Lymphatic capillaries penetrate nearly every tissue of the body, but where are they absent?
The bone marrow, central nervous system, and tissues, (such as the epidermis)
Describe the lymphatic capillaries (terminal lymphatics)
-They penetrate nearly every tissue of the body
-Very permeable
-Overlapping endothelial cells form one-way valves so fluid can enter but can’t exit
What forms the one-way valves of the lymphatic capillaries?
Overlapping endothelial cells
What 3 layers are larger lymphatic vessels composed of? Describe them.
1) Tunica interna: endothelium and one-way valves
2) Tunica media: elastic fibers, smooth muscle
3) Tunica externa: thin outer layer
Describe the lymphatic vessels
-Converge into larger and larger vessels
-Collecting vessels course through many lymph nodes
-Larger ones are composed of tunica interna, tunica media, and tunica externa
What course through many lymph nodes?
Collecting vessels
What are lymphatic vessels most similar to?
Veins
How many lymphatic trunks drain major portions of body?
11
What are the two collecting ducts?
Right lymphatic duct and thoracic duct
Compare the speed and pressure of lymph flow to that of blood
Low pressure & slower speed than venous blood
What 4 things allow lymph to flow?
-Rhythmic contractions of lymphatic vessels (stretching wall stimulates contraction)
-Skeletal muscle pump
-Arterial pulsation
-Thoracic pump
What can you do to significantly increase your lymphatic return?
Exercise
Name the 6 lymphatic cells
1) Natural killer (NK) cells
2) T-lymphocytes (T-cells)
3) B-lymphocytes (B-cells)
4) Macrophages
5) Dendritic cells
6) Reticular cells
Describe natural killer (NK) cells and what they kill
Large lymphocytes that attack bacteria, transplanted tissue, viral-infected cells or cancer
What type of lymphatic cell matures in the thymus?
T lymphocytes (T cells)
Describe macrophages
-Large phagocytes that develop from monocytes
-Works as Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for T cells
Describe dendritic cells
Branched, mobile antigen-presenting cells found in epidermis, mucous membranes, and lymphatic organs
What do reticular cells do?
They form the stroma (soft skeleton) of a lymphatic organ
Define lymphatic tissues
Aggregations of lymphocytes in the connective tissues of mucous membranes and various organs
Describe diffuse lymphatic tissue and in which 4 systems it’s found
-Lymphocytes scattered
-Mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT)
-Which 4 systems? Reproductive, urinary, digestive, and respiratory
Describe lymphatic nodules (follicles) and where they’re found
Dense masses found in lymph nodes, tonsils, appendix, and Peyer patches
Name the two primary lymph organs and what they do
-Red bone marrow and thymus
-The thymus is where T cells become activated: able to recognize and respond to antigens
Name 3 secondary lymph organs and briefly describe them
-Includes the lymph nodes, tonsils, and spleen
-Immunocompetent cells populate these tissues
What two things is red bone marrow involved in?
Hemopoiesis (blood formation) and immunity
Describe the red bone marrow and its role in immunity
-Soft, loosely organized, highly vascular material
-Separated from osseous tissue by endosteum of bone
-As blood cells mature, they push their way through the reticular and endothelial cells to enter the sinus and flow away in the bloodstream
Describe the thymus
-A bilobed organ located in superior mediastinum
-Shows degeneration (involution) with age
-The lobules are divided into cortex and medulla
Describe what the thymus does
-T Lymphocytes develop in the thymus’s cortex, then move to its medulla
-Produces signaling molecules thymosin, thymopoietin, thymulin, interleukins, and interferon
What organ produces signaling molecules thymosin, thymopoietin, thymulin, interleukins, and interferon. What line of defense is this?
Thymus; second line of defense
What is the most numerous lymphatic organ?
Lymph nodes
What are the 2 functions of lymph nodes?
-Cleanse the lymph
-Act as a site of T and B cell activation
Describe the general anatomy of lymph nodes
Describe the general anatomy of lymph nodes
-An elongated, bean-shaped structure with hilum
-It’s enclosed with a fibrous capsule with trabeculae that divide interior into compartments
What are the 2 major regions of the lymph nodes?
Cortex and medulla
What allows time for lymph to be cleaned?
-Several afferent lymphatic vessels lead into a lymph node along its convex surface, but there are only 1-3 efferent lymphatic vessels leave the hilum.
-This difference in the number of “entrances” and “exits” allows time for lymph to be cleaned
How are lymph nodes named?
For their location
Define lymphadenitis
A swollen, painful lymph node responding to foreign antigen
Define metasis
Cancerous cells break free from original tumor, travel to other sites in the body, and establish new tumors
Describe how metastatic cancer affects the lymphatic system
-Metastasizing cells easily enter lymphatic vessels, and they tend to lodge in the first lymph node they encounter. Usually makes them swollen and firm, but painless.
-They multiply there and eventually destroy the node
-They tend to spread to the next node downstream
What is the treatment for breast cancer? Why?
Treatment of breast cancer is lumpectomy, mastectomy, along with removal of nearby axillary nodes (since metastasizing cells easily enter lymph nodes)
Define and describe tonsils
-Defined as patches of lymphatic tissue located at the entrance to the pharynx that guard against ingested or inhaled pathogens
-They’re covered with epithelium and have deep pits called tonsillar crypts, which are lined with lymphatic nodules
-Sometimes removed due to chronic tonsillitis via tonsillectomy
What is the body’s largest lymphatic organ?
The spleen
List and describe the two types of tissue found in the spleen
1) Red pulp: sinuses filled with erythrocytes
2) White pulp: lymphocytes, macrophages surrounding small branches of splenic artery
What 3 things does the spleen do?
1) Responsible for blood cell production in fetuses (and very anemic adults); old RBC’s are also often broken and disposed of here.
2) Stabilizes blood volume through plasma transfers to lymphatic system
3) White pulp monitors blood for foreign antigens and keeps an army of monocytes for release when needed
What does the white pulp of the spleen do?
Monitors blood for foreign antigens and keeps an army of monocytes for release when needed
Define pathogens
Agents capable of producing disease
(Includes viruses, bacteria, and fungi)
What are the 3 lines of defense against pathogens?
1) First line of defense: skin and mucous membranes
2) Second line of defense: several innate defense mechanisms
3) Third line of defense: adaptive immunity; defeats a pathogen, and leaves the body with a “memory” of it so it can defeat it faster in the future
Define innate defenses and list its 3 types
-Defenses that guard equally against a broad range of pathogens; local, nonspecific, and lacks memory
-Three kinds of innate defenses:
1) Protective proteins
2) Protective cells
3) Protective processes
Define adaptive immunity
-When the body develops immunity that’s specific to a particular pathogen
-Body adapts to a pathogen and wards it off more easily upon future exposure (memory)
Name 4 external barries
1) Skin
2) Mucous membranes
3) Acid mantle
4) Fluid flow
Describe how the skin functions as an external barrier
-Toughness of keratin
-Too dry and nutrient-poor for microbial growth
-Dermicidin, defensins, and cathelicidins that kill microbes
Describe how mucous membranes function as an external barrier. In what body systems can they be found?
-Mucus physically traps microbes
-Lysozyme: enzyme destroys bacterial cell walls
-Found in respiratory, digestive, reproductive, and one more body system (**)
Describe how the acid mantle functions as an external barrier. Where is it most present?
-Lower pH inhibits bacterial and fungal growth
-Ex: Sweat, Sebum, Vagina, Stomach
Describe how fluid flow acts as an external barrier, and give 4 examples
-The penetration of microbes slowed by moving them out of susceptible area
-Ex: Urination, salivation, lacrimation, and mucus-ciliary escalator
What 3 things does the second line of defense consist of?
1) Protective cells
2) Protective proteins
3) Protective responses
Give 3 examples of protective cells
Leukocytes, Macrophages, and Natural Killer (NK) cells
Give 2 examples of protective proteins
Interferons and Complement proteins
Give 2 examples of protective responses
Fever and Inflammation
Define phagocytes
cells that engulf foreign matter
Describe how neutrophils act as a second line of defense
-Can kill bacteria using phagocytosis and digestion, or a respiratory burst
-Lysosomes degranulate releasing bactericidal chemicals; creates a killing zone around neutrophil
Describe how eosinophils act as a second line of defense
-They guard against parasites, allergens (allergy-causing agents), and other pathogens
-They kill tapeworms and roundworms by producing superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and toxic proteins
In what two ways do basophils act as a second line of defense?
-Secrete Histamine: promotes inflammation
-Heparin: inhibits clot formation
Describe how mast cells act as a second line of defense
-Secrete histamine and heparin like basophils
-Type of connective tissue cell very similar to basophils
Define monocytes
Leukocytes that leave blood and transform into macrophages
List and describe the 2 primary types of macrophages
1) Wandering macrophages: actively seek pathogens
2) Fixed macrophages: phagocytize only pathogens that come to them
Give 3 examples of fixed macrophages
Microglia—in central nervous system
Alveolar macrophages (Dust cells) —in lungs
Hepatic macrophages—in liver