Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues 1 Flashcards
1
Q
What 3 things are MALT found under the epithelium of?
A
Respiratory tract
Gastrointestinal tract
Genitourinary tract
2
Q
What forms the Gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT)?
A
Tonsils and adenoids
Peyer’s patches
Appendix
3
Q
What is the structure of the tonsils?
A
They are located at the back of the mouth, either side of the uvula. They have small wrinkles called crypts which subdivide further in the tonsil.
4
Q
Where are the adenoids located?
A
High in the throat behind the nose and soft palate.
5
Q
Why do tonsils swell?
A
They have a similar function to lymph nodes where they present antibodies to the cells of the immune system. If an immune cell recognises an antigen it will rapidly divide. It is this rapid division that causes the tonsils to swell.
