Immunology and the Lymphatic System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of the lymphatic system? (3)

A

Drains excess interstitial fluid from fluid spaces and returns it to the blood

Transports dietary lipids and lipid soluble vitamins that are absorbed by the GI tract

Carries out immune response, using highly specific responses directed against particular microbes or abnormal cells

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2
Q

What does the lymphatic system contain? (2)

A

Lymph (moving fluid)

Lymphatics (group of vessels)

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3
Q

What are the two main branches of the lymphatic system?

A

Right lymphatic duct

Thoracic duct

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4
Q

What is lymph? (4)

A

Clear, watery fluid

Results from fluid exiting circulation (3000 ml circulating daily)

Is similar to interstitial fluid, is isotonic to it. Usually contains more proteins

Most comes from the liver and small intestines

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5
Q

What are the lymphatic vessels? (3)

A

The originate as lymphatic capillaries

The lie side by side of the blood capillaries (Thinner, have more valves, have nodes)

Contines to merge to form major ducts

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6
Q

What area of the body does the right lymphatic duct cover?

A

The upper right quadrant of the body

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7
Q

What area of the body does the thoracic duct cover?

A

The rest of the body

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8
Q

What is the function of the lymphatic vessels?

A

Permits particulate matter that cannot be absorbed into the capillary to be removed from the interstitial space

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9
Q

How does the lymphatic fluid move? (2)

A

It moves uphill

It is usually attributed to muscular movement

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10
Q

What are lymph nodes?

A

They have several lymph vessels entering into this ‘filter’ and they have one vessel leaving

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11
Q

What is the function of lymph nodes? (2)

A

Defence (filtration and phagocytosis)

Hematopiesis (site of maturation of some cells)

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12
Q

What is the immune system?

A

It is a system that uses many mechanisms to ensure the integrity and survival of the internal environment

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13
Q

What are the two major catergories of the immune system?

A

Non-specific immunity

Specific immunity

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14
Q

In the immune system, what does non-specific (innate) immunity do?

A

The external physical and chemical barriers provided by the skin and mucous membranes

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15
Q

In the immune system, what does specific immunity do? (2)

A

Recognizes specific threatening agents

Slow to recognize targets and overcome the threat (especially first time exposure)

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16
Q

What are the four cells used in non-specific immunity?

A

Neutrophils

Monocytes

Macrophages

Natural killer (NK) cells

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17
Q

What are the two lymphocytic cells used in specific immunity?

A

T-cells

B-cells

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18
Q

In non-specific immunity, what does it mean to be species resistant?

A

Genetic characteristics to protect the body from certain pathogens

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19
Q

What are mechanical and chemical barriers in non-specific immunity? (2)

A

Skin & mucosa

Secretions

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20
Q

How does the skin and mucosa aid in non-specific immunity?

A

A continuous wall that separates the internal environment from the external environment

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21
Q

How do secretions aid in non-specific immunity?

A

Sebum, mucus and enzymes chemically inhibit the activity of pathogens

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22
Q

How does inflammation help in non-specific immunity?

A

It is an attempt to dispose of microbes, toxins or foreign material at the site of injury, to prevent their spread to other tissues and to prepare the site for tissue repair in an attempt to restore tissue homeostasis

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23
Q

How do neutrophils help with phagocytosis in non-specific immunity?

A

The granular leukocytes that are usually the first phaocytic cell to arrive due to the inflammatory response

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24
Q

How do macrophages help with phagocytosis in non-specific immunity?

A

Monocytes that have enlarged to become phagocytic cells (may be called by other names when found in specific tissues)

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25
Q

How do natural killer cells help with non-specific immunity?

A

They are a group of lymphocytes that kill different types of cancer cells and virus infected cells

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26
Q

How does interferon aid with non-specific immunity?

A

Proteins produced by cells after they become infected by a virus which inhibits further spread of the viral infection

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27
Q

What is the complement when talking non-specific immunity?

A

Plasma proteins that produce a cascade of chemical reactions that cause lysis of foreign cells

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28
Q

What is specific immunity?

A

It attacks specific agents that the body recognizes as not itself

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29
Q

How is specific immunity controlled?

A

By lymphocytes (a class of WBC)

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30
Q

Where are lymphocytes formed?

A

In the red bone marrow cells of the fetus from the hematopoietic stem cells

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31
Q

What is the function of B lymphocytes (B cells)?

A

Produced antibodies (antibody-mediated immunity)

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32
Q

What is the function of T lymphocytes (T cells)

A

Direct attack of pathogens (cell-mediated immunity)

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33
Q

What are the three lines of defence in the immune system?

A

First line of defence
Second line of defence
Third line of defence

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34
Q

What is included in the first line of immune defence? (2)

A

Mechanical barriers

Chemical barriers

35
Q

What is included in the second line of immune defence? (2)

A

Inflammation response

Phagocytosis

36
Q

What is included in the third line of immune defence?

A

Specific immune response

Natural killer cells

37
Q

What are antigens? (2)

A

A substance that introduced to the body that induces the formation of anitbodies

Usually macromolecules located in the membranes of microorganisms or the outer coats of viruses

38
Q

What are antigenic determinatnts? (2)

A

Variously shaped, small regions on the surface of the antigen molecule (epitope)

Each kind of antigen has specific and uniquely shaped epitopes

39
Q

What are combining sites? (3)

A

Two small concave regions on the surface of the antibody

Like epitopes, have specific and unique shapes

Shaped to allow the epitope of the antigen fit into it and thereby bind to form antigen-antibody complex

40
Q

What is a clone?

A

A descendant of a cell

41
Q

What is a complement?

A

A group of proteins that work together to destroy foreign cells

42
Q

What are inactive B cells? (2)

A

Produced in the yolk sac, then the red marrow or the fetal liver

Circulated to the lymph nodes and spleen

43
Q

What are active B cells? (4)

A

When an inactive B cell encounters a specific antigen

This binding triggers a series of mitotic divisions producing clones of B cells

The clones can differentiate into plasma cells and secrete antibodies

Others remain in the lymphatic system as memory cells and will become plasma cells if introduced to the antigen at another time

44
Q

What are antibodies?

A

Proteins of the immunoglobulin family

45
Q

What are antibodies made of?

A

Large molecules composed of long chains of amino acids (polypeptides)

46
Q

How many polypeptide chains are in an antibody?

A

Four
2 heavy
2 light

47
Q

What shape do the four polypeptide chains take?

A

A Y shaped appearance

48
Q

What are the five classes of antibodies?

A

IgM

IgG

IgA

IgE

IgD

49
Q

What is an IgM antibody? (2)

A

It is produced by immature B cells and inserted into plasma membranes

It is the predominate antibody produced after initial contact with an antigen

50
Q

What is an IgG antibody? (3)

A

Most abundant circulating antibody (75%)

Predominate in a secondary exposure

Cross the placenta barrier to provide natural passive immunity

51
Q

What is an IgA antibody?

A

It is found in the mucous membrane, in saliva and tears

52
Q

What is an IgE antibody? (2)

A

It is minor in amount

Can produce major effects (allergies)

53
Q

What is an IgD antibody?

A

Found in blood in small amounts (function unknown)

54
Q

What is a complement of antibodies? (3)

A

They are a component of blood plasma

They are inactive enzymes that are activated in a definitive sequence to catalyst a series of reactions

Various complement proteins may produce other reactions

55
Q

What are the two functions of the lymphatic system?

A

Maintain fluid balance

Immunity

56
Q

What are the four main types of antimicrobial substances?

A

Interferons
Complement
Iron-binding proteins
Antimicrobial proteins

57
Q

What produces interferons? (3)

A

Lymphocytes
Macrophages
Fibroblasts infected with viruses

58
Q

What is the function of interferons (IFN)? (3)

A

Once released by virus-infected cells, IFN’s diffuse to uninfected neighbouring cells

They induce synthesis of antiviral proteins that interfere with viral replication

They do not prevent viruses from attaching and penetrating to host cells, they stop replication

59
Q

What is the complement system? (2)

A

A group of normally inactive proteins in blood plasma and on plasma membranes

When activated, these proteins complement certain immune reactions

60
Q

What are iron-binding proteins?

A

They inhibit the growth of certain bacteria by reducing the amount of available iron

61
Q

What are phagocytes?

A

Specialized cells that perform phagocytosis, the ingestion of microbes or other particles such as cell debris

62
Q

What are two major types of phagocytes?

A

Neutrophils

Macrophages

63
Q

What are the five phases of phagocytosis?

A

Chemotaxis

Adherence

Ingestion

Digestion

Killing

64
Q

What are the three stages of inflammatory response?

A

Vasodilation and increased permeability of blood vessels

Emigration/movement of phagocytes from the blood into interstitial fluid

Tissue repair

65
Q

What are five other aspects of inflammatory response?

A
Histamine
Kinins
Prostaglandins
Leukotrienes
Complement
66
Q

What is histamine?

A

In response to injury, mast cells in connective tissue and basophils and platelets in blood release histamine. Neutrophils and macrophages attracted to the site of injury also stimulate the release of histamine, which causes vasodilation and increased permeability of blood vessels

67
Q

What are kinins?

A

These polypeptides, formed in blood from inactive precursors called kininogens, induce vasodilation and incrased permeability and serve as chemotactic agents for phagocytes

68
Q

What are prostaglandins?

A

These lipids, especially those of the E series, are released by damaged cells and intensify the effects of histamine and kinins. Prostaglandins also may stimulate the emigration of phagocytes through capillary walls

69
Q

What are leukotrienes?

A

Produced by basophils and mast cells, leukotrienes cause increased permeability; they also function in adherence of phagocytes to pathogens and as chemotactic agents that attract phagocytes

70
Q

What is complement?

A

Different components of the complement system stimulate histamine release, attract neutrophils by chemotaxis, and promote phagocytosis; some components can also destroy bacteria

71
Q

What is increased permeability?

A

Means that substances normally retained in blood are permitted to pass from the blood vessels

72
Q

What does antigen mean?

A

Antibody generator

73
Q

Where do B cells mature?

A

Red bone marrow

74
Q

Where do T cells mature?

A

Thymus

75
Q

What is immunocompetence?

A

Before B-cells or T-cells leave their maturation area, they develop immunocompetence which is the ability to carry out adaptive immune responses.

76
Q

What are cytokines?

A

Small proteins hormones that stimulate or inhibit many normal cell functions, such as cell growth and differentiation

77
Q

What is a granzyme?

A

It is a protein-digesting enzyme that triggers apoptosis

78
Q

What are five actions of antibodies?

A
Neutralizing antigen
Immobilizing bacteria
Agglutinating and precipitating antigen
Activating complement
Enhancing phagocytosis
79
Q

What is a neutralizing agent?

A

The reaction of an antibody with antigen blocks or neutralizes some bacterial toxins and prevents attachment of some viruses to body cells

80
Q

What is an immobilizing bacteria?

A

If antibodies form against antigens on the cilia or flagella of motile bacteria, the antigen-antibody reaction may cause the bacteria to lose their motility, which limits their spread to nearby tissues

81
Q

What is an agglutinating and precipitating antigen?

A

Because antibodies have two or more sites for binding to an antigen, the antigen-antibody reaction may cross-link pathogens to one another causing agglutination.

82
Q

What is agglutination?

A

The clumping together

83
Q

What is an activating complement?

A

Antigen-antibody complexes initiate the classical pathway of the complement system

84
Q

What is enhancing phagocytosis?

A

The stem region of an antibody acts as a flag that attracts phagocytes once antigens have bound to the antibodies variable region