Lymphatics Flashcards
(93 cards)
Peripheral lymphatic tissue
Where lymphocytes respond to antigens
Lymphoid tissue characteristics
Populated with lymphocytes
Small lymphocyte types
B and T lymphocytes, null cells
Null cells
Lack surface characteristics of T or B cells. 5-10% of the peripheral blood cells
Large lymphocytes
About 3x the volume of small lymphocytes
Lymphoid tissue function
- Lymphocyte production
2. Immune resonse
Role of small lymphocytes in immune response
- Recirculate continuously between blood and lymph.
2. Serve as immunocompotent cells capable of responding to antigen
B-cells
Differentiate into plasma cells or are retained in tissue as memory cells
Plasma cells
Produce humoral antibodies
T-lymphocytes
Involved in cell-mediated immune response or are retained in tissue as memory cells.
When do T-cells usually respond to an antigen
When it presented on surface of an accessory cell
What is characteristic of secondary immune response?
Immediate and extensive
Components of lymphoid tissue
Stroma (includes cells and reticular fibers) and lymphoid cells.
Cells in the stroma
Reticular cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, follicular dendritic cells
Reticular cells
Fibroblast-like, produce reticular fibers (Type III collagen)
Macrophages (APCs)
- Phagocytosis of foreign particle matter.
2. Play a role in processing and presenting antigens
Dendritic cells
Very efficient APCs
Follicular dendritic cells
- Bind antibody-antigen complexes on surface of processes.
2. Don’t endocytose and process antigen, thus these cells aren’t APCs
Reticular fibers
- Produced by reticular (fibroblast) cells
2. Form a lot of supporting framework of lymphoid tissue
Lymphoid cells
- small, med, large lymphocytes and plasma cells.
2. Enlargement and proliferation on exposure to antigen
How is non-encapsulated lymphatic tissue classified?
Based on gross histological arrangement
Diffuse lymphatic tissue
- In GI, respiratory tracts and other places where lymphatic tissue accumulates.
- Loose
- Dense
Nodular lymphatic tissue
- Scattered throughout digestive, respiratory, urinary systems in loose connective tissue beneath wet epithelial membranes
- Represent local immune responses to antigens
- Characterized by solitary lymphatic nodules (follicles)
Primary lymphatic nodule
Dark staining, spherically organized ball of small lymphocytes