Immune Response to Antibodies Flashcards
What are the primary organs involved in immune response?
Bone marrow
Thymus
What are the secondary organs involved in immune response?
Adenoids Tonsils Lymph nodes Spleen Peyer’s patches Appendix
What are the functions of the bone marrow?
It produces all blood cell types (Except mature T cells) Contains: • Numerous blood vessels • A reticular stroma with macrophages • Extracellular matrix • Fat cells (yellow marrow)
What is the origin of blood cells?
All the blood cell types come from:
• A pleuripotent haematopoietic progenitor cell
• Or stem cell
Describe the features of Dendritic cells
Role in the Innate immunity:
• Phagocytic cells
• Like other cells they recognise pathogens through surface receptors and become ‘activated’
Role in the Adaptive immunity:
• Phagocytise pathogens and display their antigen (presentation)
• This activates the T & B cells
Describe the role of the thymus in immune function
T cell precursors called thymocytes migrate from the bone marrow to the thymus to mature
• This is the only blood cell not made by the bone marrow
Mature T cells leave the thymus and migrate to secondary lymphatic tissues where they may encounter foreign antigens
Describe the role of lymphoid tissues
Lymph nodes are sites of response to foreign Antigens in the tissues they drain
Whilst the spleen is the site of response to foreign Antigens in the blood
Describe the features of the lymphatic system
It is a network of vessels that links up the lymph nodes and conveys extracellular tissue fluid (lymph) around the body - bathes every cell
- Returns it via the thoracic duct, back to the bloodstream
It consists of fine, blind-ended lymphatic capillaries which unite to form lymphatic vessels
Vessels have valves to prevent backflow of lymph
What is lymph?
Lymph is similar in composition to plasma but contains less protein
• Some cells (mainly lymphocytes)
• Milky in appearance
What are the features of Lymph nodes?
Lymph nodes contain afferent and efferent vessels. Afferent vessels introduce lymph to the lymph node; efferent vessels take it away.
Reticular fibres are suited to the attachment of abundant such as lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. The dendritic cells move through the lymph nodes and will present antigen to the t-cell.
