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Microanatomy > Lymphoid Organs > Flashcards

Lymphoid Organs Flashcards

1
Q

what are the primary and secondary lymphoid organs?

A

Primary: bone marrow, thymus (production of lymphocytes)

Secondary: lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils, Peyer’s patches (microenvironment for interactions of lymphocytes and Ags)

all important components of immune system, where responses are largely initiated and generated

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2
Q

extralymphoid tissues/organs of immune system

A
  • aggregates of lymphoid tissue in non-lymphoid organs: GALT (digestive system), respiratory tract, urinary tract, reproductive tract, SALT (skin)
  • lymphocytes of blood/lymph
  • wandering lymphocytes
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3
Q

lymphocyte reticulation

A

from blood to lymphoid organs back to blood

  • may have to go through lymph nodes after the initial lymphoid organ, leaving thru thoracic duct back to circulation
  • facilitates immune surveillance
  • ensures rapid response to Ag
  • connects the three components of immune system (primary, secondary, extralymphoid)
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4
Q

reticular connective tissue and two common types

A

contains cells and fibers (type III collagen)

  • forms sponge-like meshwork that supports lymphocytes
    1. lymphoid tissue - free cells are largely lymphocytes
    2. myeloid tissue - free cells are developing erythrocytes and granular leukocytes (bone marrow)
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5
Q

reticular (dendritic) cells

A

in reticular lymphoid tissue

  • large cells of mesenchymal origin that maintain ECM
  • have numerous cytoplasmic processes that wrap around reticular fibers
  • acts as macrophages, ferritin storage, and Ag processing and presentation
  • have trophic role in blood cell formation
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6
Q

reticular fibers

A

component of lymphoid reticular tissue

-seen in H&E preps, PAS+, reduced in silver salts, , made of type III collagen

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7
Q

types of lymphoid tissue

A

loose: open meshwork of cells and fibers, with numerous fixed (reticular) cells
dense: denser meshwork of cells and fibers, with numerous free (lymphocyte) cells
nodular: spherical aggregates of mostly B lymphocytes (lymphatic nodule)
- lacks CT capsule, but compact and spherical
- both primary and secondary nodules

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8
Q

primary nodular tissue

A

unstimulated (not under antigenic challenge)

-tightly packed small lymphocytes

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9
Q

secondary lymphatic nodular tissue

A

under antigenic stimulation with germinal centers

  • dark zones: B lymphocytes (proliferation via clonal expansion)
  • light zone: non-dividing B lymphocytes (selection, apoptosis, differentiation), T helper cells
  • mantle zone: young plasma cells and memory B cells (temporary storage)
  • appear during primary antigenic response, involute in about 4 weeks

also have framework of follicular dendritic cells and reticular fibers

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10
Q

lymph node general characteristics

A

kidney-shaped w/ consex (afferent lymphatic vessels) and concave sides (hilus, efferent lymphatic vessels)

  • capsule of dense irregular CT
  • CT trabeculae invaginate and provide structural support, subdivide node into incomplete compartments
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11
Q

cortex of lymph node

A

outer, more densely stained region

  • loose lymphoid tissue (subcapsular and peritrabecular sinuses)
  • lymphatic nodules (may have germinal centers, but contain mostly B lymphocytes)
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12
Q

medulla of lymph node components

A

dense lymphoid tissue (medullar cords)

-mostly B lymphocytes and plasma cells

loose lymphoid tissue (medullar sinuses)

  • numerous reticular cells
  • communicate with peritrabecular sinuses and efferent lymphatics
  • have permeable walls that permit free passage of wandering cells
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13
Q

flow of lymph through a lymph node

A

for immune and filtration functions

  • afferent lymphatics (enter from multiple sites on convex surface; unique to lymph nodes)
  • subscapular sinus
  • peritrabecular (intermediate) sinuses
  • medullar sinuses
  • efferent lymphatics (leave node at hilus)

both entry/exit have valves to ensure one-way lymph flow

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14
Q

filtration of lymph

A

occurs in sinuses

lymph moves slowly

reticular cells are phagocytes

-failure will faciilitate spread of infection and/or metastases

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15
Q

lymphocyte circulation (not the same as lymph flow)

A
  1. produced in germinal centers
  2. forced to periphery of nodules
  3. enter sinuses
  4. leave node by way of efferent lymphatics
  5. enter blood circulatory system by way of thoracic duct
  6. most return to nodes by HEV
  7. recirculation is critical to efficient immune surveillance
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16
Q

high endothelial venules

A

HEV - how 90% of lymphocytes return to circulation (other 10% by afferent lymphatic vessels)

  • lined by tall endothelial cells w/ vascular addressins on their surface
  • small lymphocytes have “homing receptors”
  • other cell adhesion molecules (selectins, integrins, CHO, clever-1, Ig superfamily) involved in diapedesis
  • seen in tonsils, lymph nodes and Peyer’s patches, but not spleen/thymus
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17
Q

medical relevance of HEVs

A
  1. play a role in lymphocyte recirculation (contribute to specificty)
  2. decrease in number with age (matches immunologic function)
  3. may be involved in metastasis of lymphoid malignancies (lymphomas)
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18
Q

reasons why recirculation of lymphocytes is critical to efficient immune surveillance

A
  1. permits lymphocytes to encounter Ags
  2. facilitates communication with other leukocyte types
  3. allows targeting of lymphocytes
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19
Q

paracortical zone of lymph nodes function

A

also deep/tertiary/inner cortex

  • between cortex and medulla, where most HEVs are
  • under thymic influence, so mostly T lymphocytes
  • made of deep cortex units

–semi-rounded structures contiguous with cortex and bulging into medulla

–centered on opening of afferent lymphatic, and sometimes used to form complexes

20
Q

paracortical zone’s deep cortex structure (central and peripheral portions)

A
  • central portion with few reticular fibers, high concentration of small lymphocytes, and site of cellular storage and proliferation
  • dense framework of reticular fibers, with fewer lymphocytes

–the site of HEVs and rapid migration of lymphocytes

21
Q

functions of lymph nodes

A
  1. filtration of lymph
  2. production/selection of B lymphocytes
  3. immune response to lymph-borne antigens
22
Q

thymus general characteristics (where, embryology, etc.)

A
  1. situated in superior mediastinum
  2. dual embryological origin
    - epithelial lining of 3rd/4th brachial (pharyngeal) pouches + surrounding mesenchyme
  3. develops early, and fully developed at birth (max size at 1 yo)
  4. involutes with age, parenchyma replaced by fat and CT
23
Q

fetal thymus structure

A
  1. thin capsule of dense CT
  2. CT septae (trabeculae) subdivide into 2 main lobes and numerous lobules (have cortex and medulla) with continuity
24
Q

thymus cortex

A

peripheral, more darkly staining zone

  • dense lymphoid tissue
  • lymphocytes predominate
  • site of thymocyte proliferation, apoptosis, and selection
25
Q

thymus medulla

A

central, more lightly staining zone

  • loose lymphoid tissue
  • rich in epithelial-reticular cells
  • site of thymocyte maturation
26
Q

principle cell types w/in the thymus

A
  1. thymocytes - thymic lymphocytes predominate in cortex (proliferate, select, apoptose)
    - populate T dependent regions of other lymphoid organs
  2. epithelial reticular cells - only from thymus, not phagocytic, don’t manufacture reticular cells, and not APCs
    - originate in endodermal lining of 3rd/4th branchial pouches (desmosomes and tonofilaments)
27
Q

functions of epithelial reticular cells

A

(in thymus)

  1. secretion - dense secretory granules, and thymosin polypeptides that promote differentiation of T lymphocytes
    - may also make thymopoietin with trophic action on lymphoid system
  2. form supporting framework (cytoreticulum) of organ (has desmosomes and tonofilaments)
  3. form Hassall’s corpuscles - unique to thymic medulla
  4. contribute to blood-thymus barrier - protects cortical lymphocytes from circulating Ags, providing immunologically priveileged site for differentiating thymocytes
28
Q

Hassall’s corpuscles

A

unique to thymic medulla

  • concentrically arranged epithelial reticular cells that frequently keratinize or calcify
  • decrease in number and increase in size with age
  • probably degenerated structures, that may remove apoptotic thymocytes or generate regulatory T cells?
29
Q

mesenchymal reticular cells (dendritic cells)

A

only a small fraction of thymic stroma

  • identical to reticular cells of lymph nodes
  • phagocytic for T-cell selection debris, so appear black
30
Q

types of cells in thymus cortex VS thymus medulla

A

C: mostly thymocytes (production, selection, apoptosis)

M: mostly epitheial reticular cells (selected thymocytes begin maturation into T lymphocytes, and presence of Hassall’s copuscles)

31
Q

functions of the thymus

A
  1. development of T diverse lymphocytes that respond to foreign Ag (thymosin)
  2. trophic role in development of other lymphoid organs (thymopoietin)
32
Q

general characteristics of spleen

A

largest single accumulation of lymphoid tissue

  • complex filter for blood interposed in bloodstream
  • immunodefense
  • dense, irregular CT capsule with branching network of trabeculae from capsule (provides support and contains blood vessels, small amount of smooth muscle)
33
Q

splenic pulp components

A

red pulp (80% of splenic parenchyma)

white pulp (20% of splenic parenchyma), stains more purple from lymphocytes

34
Q

splenic red pulp

A
  1. contains large quantity of blood
  2. made up of splenic sinuses (discontinuous sinusoid) and splenic cords
35
Q

splenic sinuses of splenic red pulp

A
  1. long, irregular vascular channels
  2. elongate endothelial cells with spaces between them
  3. discontinuous basement membrane
  4. macrophages are on the outside surface of basement membrane (w/in cords)
  5. allow free exchange between cords and sinuses
36
Q

splenic cords of splenic red pulp

A
  1. plates of cellular tissue lying between sinuses
  2. site of destruction of RBC
  3. site of storage of blood
37
Q

splenic white pulp

A
  1. composed of lymphoid tissue
  2. periarterial lymphatic sheath (PALS) - surrounds major arterial branches (central arteries) as T-dependent area
  3. lymphatic nodules - within PALS have mostly B lymphocytes, and may or may not have germinal centers
38
Q

marginal zone of spleen

A
  1. found at junction of red and white pulp
  2. most arterial blood runs thru marginal zone
  3. contains lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and macrpohages

4. site of initiation of immune responses to blood-borne Ags

  1. blood enters red pulp from here
39
Q

blood flow thru spleen

A
  1. splenic artery (enters at hilus)
  2. trabecular arteries
  3. central arteries (arterioles in periarterial lymphatic sheaths and nodules to supply lymphatic tissue)
  4. penicillar arteries (straight branches into red pulp)
  5. capillaries (open/closed theories of splenic circulation)
  6. splenic sinuses
  7. red pulp veins
  8. trabecular veins
  9. splenic veins (leaves spleen at hilus)
40
Q

open/closed theories of splenic circulation

A

Closed: blood flows directly from capillaries to sinuses (faster)

Open: blood flows from capillaries into cords into sinuses (slower, but the one most blood follows)

41
Q

splenic sinuses

A

wide vascular channels with splaces between endothelial cells

  • discontinuous basement membrane (gaps) make it highly porous
  • macrophages are outside basement membranes (w/in cords)
  • free exchange between sinuses and cords
42
Q

functions of spleen

A
  1. production of lymphocytes (in germinal centers of 2ary lymphatic nodules)
  2. immune response to blood-borne Ags (dentritic cells in marginal zone trap Ags, process and present to lymphocytes, which migrate to nodules (B) or PALS (T) to differentiate)
  3. destruction of old RBCs (by macropahges)
  4. storage of blood, esp. cells and platelets (spongy nature of red pulp is important)
    - reservoir of monocytes can be rapidly released to regulate inflammation
43
Q

tonsils generalized characteristics and functions

A
  1. aggregates of lymphoid tissue that lies beneath an epithelium in upper pharynx (aperture thru which oral cavity communicates with pharynx)
  2. consist of lymphatic nodules (with germinal centers) embedded in dense lymphoid tissue
  3. reach maximal development in childhood

Functions: detect and respond to pathogens in oral cavity, and produce lymphocytes

44
Q

pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids)

A

located in roof of nasopharynx

  • covered by pseudostratified ciliated columnar (respiratory) epithelium
  • characterized by presence of numerous surface folds (pleats) rather than deep crypts
  • surrounded by thin capusle of dense, irregular CT
45
Q

palatine tonsils

A
  1. located in lateral wall of oropharynx
  2. covered by stratified squamous epithelium often infiltrated by lymphocytes
  3. epithelium invaginates to form numerous deep crypts
  4. crypts contain desquamated epitheial cells, lymphocytes, and bacteria (detrius)
  5. surrounded by thick capsule of dense, irregular CT
46
Q

lingual tonsils

A
  1. located at base of tongue
  2. smaller and more numerous than other tonsils
  3. covered by stratified squamous epithelium
  4. each lingual tonsil has a single large crypt, usually filled by detrius
  5. often associated with mucous glands and skeletal muscle of tongue

Microanatomy (14 decks)

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