18 Lymphatic System Flashcards
(46 cards)
How does the lymphatic system work in relation to the venous system?
Collects 3 litres per day of interstitial fluid and returns it to the venous system
State the names of the fluid and vessels of the lymphatic system.
- Fluid – lymph
- Vessels – lymphatics
Identify the cells of the lymphatic system
- Lymphocytes: B cells, T cells and NK cells (natural killer)
- Supporting cells: follicular dendritic cells and macrophages
Identify the organs of the lymphatic system
- Lymph nodes
- Thymus
- Spleen
- Appendix
- Tonsils
- Payer’s patches
- (small masses of lymphatic tissue found throughout the ileum region of the small intestine)*
What 3 factors help to propel lymph along?
- Skeletal muscle movement
- Pressure changes in the thorax during breathing
- Pulsations of adjacent arteries
Describe the arrangement of lymphatic vessels in the body
- Lymphatics tend to lie adjacent to arteries and veins
- Lymphatics are arranged into superficial and deep (lymph flows superficial–>deep)
- Large vessels (ducts and trunks) eg in abdomen contain smooth muscle
In which region of the body are there no lymphatics?
The Central Nervous System
What are the functions of lymph nodes?
- Serve as filters for lymph: traps antigen, processes antigen and presents processed antigen to T cells (contain APCs)
- Contains macrophages, B cells and T cells which work to produce an inflammatory response (macrophages) then an immune response (B & T cells)
Approximately how many lymph nodes are there in the human body?
600-700
Describe the structure of a lymph node (general terms).
Shaped like kidney, mainly= CT fibre
- Afferent lymphatics that enter via the convex surface
- Efferent lymphatics that leave via the hilum
- Feeding artery that leaves via the hilum
- Draining vein that leaves via the hilum
- Follicles=nodules containing immune dendritic cells
How do lymphocytes enter lymph nodes?
- Enter via the feeding artery
- Leave via the efferent lymphatics
Account for possible causes of lymphadenopathy
- Infection as germinal centres in lymph nodes fill with lymphocytes
- Lymphoma as cancer metastasises to afferent lymphatics
Lymph nodes contain professional antigen presenting cells (APCs).
What is the role of such cells?
APCs are specially equipped with immunostimulatory receptors to acquire and present antigens which allows for enhanced activation of T cells
(B cells don’t require APCs to recognise antigens)
What is the structure, function and location of follicular dendritic cells (found in lymphoid tissue)?
- Structure: contain antigen-antibody complexes adhere to its dendritic processes
- Function: cause proliferation of B cells, in particular, memory B cells
- Location: found in germinal centres
Outline the humoral response (in terms of immunity).
- Humoral immunity is B lymphocyte mediated
- It involves B lymphocytes which transform into plasma cells that synthesise and secrete a specific antibody
What is cell-mediated immunity?
Cell-mediated immunity is when T cells need antigen presenting cells (macrophages, B lymphocytes) to recognise antigens
Outline the structure, function and location of the thymus gland
- Structure: fully formed and functional at birth, involutes after puberty and ends up being mostly fat
- Function: maturation of bone marrow derived stem cells into immunocompetent T cells (thymic cell education)
- Location: found in superior mediastinum
What are the functions of the spleen?
(The spleen is the largest lymphatic organ and has a very rich blood supply.)
- IMMUNE:
- Antigen presentation
- Activation and proliferation of B and T lymphocytes= Production of antibodies
- HAEMOPOIETIC
- Removal + destruction of old, damaged erythrocytes/platelets
- RBC storage
- Iron retrieval from haemoglobin
Discuss the implications of a splenectomy (2)
- Splenectomy increases the risk of infection by encapsulated bacteria e.g. the meningococcus and malaria
- Splenectomy increases the risk of DVT and pulmonary embolism
Which organs/structures perform the spleen’s functions after a splenectomy?
Liver and bone marrow take over the removal & destruction of old RBCs
Distinguish between the lymph node and spleen response to infection.
- Lymph nodes enlarge in response to local infection
- Spleen enlarges in response to systemic infection e.g. glandular fever, malaria, septicaemia
What is phagocytosis?
Phagocytosis is a specific form of endocytosis by which cells internalise solid matter, including microbial pathogens
What is opsonisation?
Opsonisation is the molecular mechanism whereby molecules, microbes, or apoptotic cells are chemically modified to have stronger interactions with cell surface receptors on phagocytes and NK cells
What effect does opsonisation have?
- With the antigen coated in opsonins, binding to immune cells is greatly enhanced
- Opsonisation also mediates phagocytosis via signal cascades from cell surface receptors
