Immune / Lymphatic System Flashcards
What is the lymphatic system made up of?
lymphatic vessels / capillaries,
lymph nodes
lymphocytes
lymph
What is the role of the lymphatic system?
fight against infections
help maintain fluid balance
aid in the transport of some fats
What is the lymph?
a colourless, watery fluid that contains lymphocytes
What are lymphocytes?
white blood cells
Name the 2 types of lymphocytes
B - lymphocytes
T - lymphocytes
What is the role of B-lymphocytes?
recognise antigens and produce specific antibodies to destroy them by phagocytosis
What is the role of T-lymphocytes?
recognise infected and abnormal cells and destroy them with special chemicals
Which type of lymphocyte recognises antigens and produces antibodies to destroy bacteria?
B-lymphocytes
Which type of lymphocyte recognises infected and abnormal cells and destroys them with special chemicals?
T-lymphocytes
What are lymphatic vessels?
vessels that carry the lymph and assists blood in returning tissue fluid back to the heart, and maintains blod volume and pressure
Identify 4 lymphatic organs
thymus
spleen
tonsils
appendix
Where are lymph nodes found?
groin, armpit, neck
What is the role of lymph nodes?
filter bacteria and other cells such as cancer cells
they add lymphocytes to the flowing lymph
Where cna you find the thymus gland?
behind the sternum
What is the role of the thymus gland?
development of T-lymphocytes, enabling them to react to a specific antigen
What is the role of tonsils?
to provide a defence again micro-organisms entering the mouth and nose, by fighting them with B and T-lymphocytes that they contain
Identify the 4 roles of the spleen
phagocytosis
storage of blood
immune response
erythropoiesis
Describe the spleen’s role of phagocytosis?
The spleen filters blood, destroying and recycling parts of red blood cells and transports them to the liver
Describe the spleen’s role of blood storage
the spleen can store up to 350ml of blood that can be returned to the circulatory system if blood is lost
Describe the spleen’s role in the immune response
it contains T and T lymphocytes whihc multiply during infection
Describe the spleen’s role of erythropoiesis
the spleen helps to produce foetal blood cells
Identify 2 disorders relating to the lymphatic system
Hodgkin’s disease
Leukaemia
What is Hodgkin’s disease?
a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system, that involved progressive enlargement of the lymph nodes, causing B-lymphocytes to multiply abnormally, which then collect in lymph nodes, causing them to swell and lose their abiltiy to fight infection
What are the symptoms of Hodgkin’s disease?
painless swellings in the neck, armpit or groin
What is Leukaemia?
cancer of white blood cells, leading to the overproduction of lymphocytes, which can lead to a reduction in red blood cells
What are the symptoms of Leukaemia?
pale skin, tiredness, breathlessness due to the reduction in red blood cells and unexplained bleeding.
