Lymphoid Tissues Flashcards
What are primary lymphoid tissues?
The site of lymphopoiesis, where new lymphocytes are made, the bone marrow and the thymus
How is lymph forms?
Through the draining of interstitial fluid out of the capillaries and into the lymphatic vessels
What are the two primary lymphatic organs?
The bone marrow and thymus
What cells are of the lymphoid lineage?
T cells, B cells and NK cells
Which part of the bone marrow does haematopoiesis occur on?
The red part
What cells are made in the bone marrow? And which part of the bone marrow?
B cells in the yellow marrow in the middle
Which cells mature in the thymus?
T cells
What is meant by thymic involution?
When the thymus output massively decreases over time, and most if thymus is replaced by fat
What are the two selection processes which the T cells undergo?
Positive and negative selection
What is positive selection?
T cells with CD4 and CD8 proteins on surface will try bind MHC1 and MHC2. if it does, this is good as the correct proteins were expressed, and cell is not killed.
What is negative selection?
Keeping the cells that don’t bind and interact with self peptides
If the TCR recognizes self peptides then apoptosis is triggered
How do the T cells differentiate into T Helper Cells and T Killer cells?
Depending on which out of CD4 or CD8 had the strongest bond, the T cell will up regulate that one
How does the thymus change with age?
Degenerates
How does the number of peripheral T cells change with age?
Remains the same - peripheral T cells numbers are maintained by the division of mature T cells
Why are older people more vulnerable to new strains of pathogens?
Due to thymic involution, the T cell numbers are maintained by the division of mature T cells outside the central lymphoid organs, therefore you get less variety of T cells
How do T cells move from their site of production?
The thymus releases chemokines initiate the chemotaxis of T cells from the bone marrow to the thymus
What happens to the thymus during infection?
No change
What happens to the bone marrow during infection?
Bien marrow increased white cell production
What are secondary lymphoid tissues?
They are the locations where lymphocytes can interact with antigens and other lymphocytes
What are some secondary lymphoid tissues?
Spleen, peyers patches, gut, lymph nodes,tonsils
What are lymph nodes?
Highly organized, encapsulated structures which are located at points of convergence of lymphatic vessels
What are germinal centers?
Anatomically restricted site where B cells undergo maturation and selection to generate high affinity antibodies
Through what vessel does lymph enter into the lymph nodes?
The afferent lymphatic vessel
What are the functions of the spleen?
- Store of platelets
- Reacts with blood borne antigen
- Removes defective RBCs from circulation
Why is the lymph nodes a discrete tissue?
It has no other function other than to act as a site where lymphocytes and antigen can interact
What form the first line is defense against infection?
Epithelial barriers