Immunology Flashcards
Hilar Lymph node
lungs
Cervical lymph node
Head and neck
Mediastinal lymph node
trachea and esophagus
Axillary lymph node
upper limb, breast, skin above umbilicus
Celiac lymph node
liver, stomach, spleen, pancreas, upper duodenum
Superior Mesenteric lymph node
lower duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon to splenic flexure
inferior mesenteric lymph node
colon from splenic flexure to upper rectum
Internal iliac lymph node
lower rectum to anal canal (above pectinate line), bladder, vaginal (middle third), prostate
Para-aortic lymph node
testes, ovaries, kidneys, uterus
Superficial Inguinal
Anal canal (below pectinate line), skin below umbilicus (except popliteal area)
Popliteal lymph node
Dorsolateral foot, posterior calf
Right lymphatic duct
drains right side of body above diaphragm
Thoarcic lymphatic duct
drains everything else into junction of left subclavian and internal jugular veins
What structures are in the lymph node cortex?
Follicles- contain B cells
- Primary follicles: more dense and dormant
- Secondary follicles: lighter and active
What structures are in the lymph node medulla?
Medullary cords- tightly packed lymphocytes and plasma cells
Medullary sinuses- contain reticular cells and macrophages–> communicate with efferent lymphatics
What is the paracortex of the lymph node?
Region between the follicles and the medulla; contains T cells and high endothelial venules through which T-cells and B-cells enter from blood
** Paracortex enlarges in an extreme cellular immune response (viral infection)**
What are the sinusoids of the spleen? Where are they found?
long, vascular channels in the red pulp with fenestrated barrel-hoop basement membranes. Cells mechanically are filtered and damaged cells get devoured by surrounding macrophages
What is in the splenic red pulp?
RBCs and sinusoids
Explain the structure of the white pulp.
White pulp- really is blue = contain lymphocytes
- Contains central arteriole surrounded by periarteriolar lymphatic sheath (T cells)
- Mostly comprised of lymphatic nodules (B cells) –> can mature to germinal center @ marginal zone once antigen presented
What is the marginal zone of the spleen?
The marginal zone is the area between the red pulp and the white pulp; it contains APCs and B cells
Where do T cells mature?
Thymus
Describe the structure of the thymus.
Encapsulated and lobulated
- Cortex is dense with immature T cells = site of positive selection
- Medulla is pale with mature T cells= site of negative selection
What are Hassall corpuscles?
located in the thymus; whorl-shaped clusters of epithelial reticular cells; eosinophilic staining
- reticular epithelial cells function to form a structural network for the thymus
Positive selection
Process in the maturation of T cells. T cells that express a TCR that binds self MHC (I or II) survives. Occurs in the thymus cortex.