Lymphatic and Immune Systems Flashcards
What does the lymphatic system do?
- has lymphocytes to fight infection
- one way drainage system from body tissue to blood circulation
- gets rid of waste products produced by cells
What does the lymphatic system work with?
immune system
What are the organs of the lymphatic system?
- thymus
- spleen (largest organ)
- lymph nodules
- lymph nodes
- interstitial fluid (between cells)
- adenoids
- tonsils
What is the purpose of the immune system?
protects against pathogens
What are examples of pathogens?
- bacteria
- viruses
- fungi
- toxins
- parasites
- cancer
Define pathogens.
something that can cause disease
Where does lymph flow through?
lymphatic vessels, lymph capillaries, lymph nodes
What are lymph nodes?
small, glandular structures
Where are lymph nodes primarily located?
neck, axilla, groin
What is the function of lymph nodes?
produces and stores lymphocytes
What are lymph nodules?
masses of tissue that contain macrophages and lymphocytes
Where are lymph nodules?
spleen and tonsils
Where is the thymus?
located posterior to sternum
What is the function of thymus?
makes t-cells
- assists with production of lymphocytes for the immature immune system
What happens to thymus as we age?
atrophies (decreases in size)
- once immune system is functional, thymus is nonexistent
What is the spleen?
largest lymphatic organ in the upper left quadrant of abdominal cavity
What do macrophages filter?
blood
What response is inflammation?
first response
What is the purpose of inflammation?
traps bacteria and other agents
What are signs of inflammation?
- swelling
- heat
- redness
- pain
What are antigens?
foreign substances the body doesn’t recognize on the surfaces of pathogens
Why do we have fevers?
helps the immune system fight infections
- higher temperatures speed up processing of immune cells and makes it harder for bacteria and viruses to thrive in the body
Which lymphocytes recognize antigens in the body?
T cells
B cells
Which lymphocytes attack cells?
T cells
Which lymphocytes make antibodies?
B cells
What are antibodies?
produced to respond to specific antigens
How do antibodies work?
- help eliminate disease-causing microbes from the body
- directly destroying pathogens or by blocking them from infecting cells
What are immunoglobulins?
AKA antibodies
What is a natually acquired active immunity?
being exposed to a live pathogen, developing the disease, and then becoming immune
- body makes antibodies against disease and makes memory cells
- chicken pox
What is an artificially acquired active immunity?
from injection of a vaccination
- vaccine has active antigens to prevent development of the disease
What is a naturally acquired passive immunity?
passed from mother to child
- antibodies pass through the placenta to protect the child from illness
- infant continues to receive immunity to disease from antibodies found in breast milk
What is artificially acquired passive immunity?
patient injected with antibodies by injection or infusion made by someone else
What is anaphylaxis?
life threatening allergic response
When can anaphylaxis occur?
within seconds or minutes of exposure to allergen
How can you treat anaphylaxis?
injection of epinephrine
What is an autoimmune disease?
condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body
What happens to people with an autoimmune disease?
- immune system mistakes part of the body as foreign
- releases proteins (auto-antibodies) that attack healthy cells
What are examples of autoimmune diseases?
- Graves disease
- lupus
- multiple sclerosis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
What is immunocompetent?
normal functioning immune system
What is immunodeficient/immunosuppressed/immunocompromised?
state in which the immune system’s ability to fight infectious diseases and cancer is compromised or entirely absent
What is opportunistic infections?
infections a normal immune system would be able to fight off
