Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissues

Question 1

Where is MALT found?

Answer 1

In the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract

Question 2

What is GALT?

Answer 2

Gut-associated lymphoid tissues - part of the overall MALT

Question 3

What does GALT contain?

Answer 3

Tonsils and adenoids, Peyers patches and appendix

Question 4

What are adenoids?

Answer 4

They are a type of tonsil (also known as the pharyngeal tonsil) which is located high in the nasopharynx behind the nasal cavity and soft palate

Question 5

What are the different types of tonsil?

Answer 5

Palatine tonsil, tubal tonsil and lingual tonsil

Question 6

What are the tonsils and adenoids?

Answer 6

They are similar in structure and function to lymph nodes. They have small ‘wrinkles’ called crypts which subdivide further inside the tonsil

Question 7

What is the palatine tonsil?

Answer 7

These are the tonsils that most people will think of when talking about tonsils - they are located at the back of the oral cavity on each side

Question 8

What are the tubal tonsils?

Answer 8

These are located in the nasopharynx near the opening to the inner ear internally

Question 9

What is the lingual tonsil?

Answer 9

It sits at the base of the tongue

Question 10

What do the four different tonsils create?

Answer 10

They create a ring around the openings of the nasal and oral cavities. This produces a line of defence against pathogens which may enter into these openings. This is know as the WALDEYERs ring.

Question 11

What is the Waldeyer’s ring?

Answer 11

The tonsils are collections of lymphatic tissue located around the pharynx. They collectively form a ring arrangement which is known as the Waldeyer’s ring.

Question 12

What does the Waldeyer’s ring consist of?

Answer 12

Pharyngeal tonsil, tubal tonsils x2, Palatine tonsils x2 and lingual tonsil

Question 13

What are the tonsils classified as?

Answer 13

MALT, and therefore contain T cells, B cells and macrophages

Question 14

What are the tonsils role?

Answer 14

They have an important role in fighting infection, the first line of defence against pathogens entering through the nasopharynx.

Question 15

What happens if the tonsils have an infection?

Answer 15

The antigen from the pathogen will appear on the lymphatics. This may enter the tonsils where it is presented to the cells of the immune system. If an immune cell recognises the antigen it begins to divide rapidly

Question 16

What does the rapid division in the tonsils cause?

Answer 16

The tonsils to swell

Question 17

What are some symptoms of tonsillitis?

Answer 17

Sore throat, pain or discomfort when swallowing, fever, swollen glands in the neck

Question 18

What is the standard treatment for tonsillitis?

Answer 18

Antibiotics

Question 19

Where are the Peyers patches located?

Answer 19

They are located in the mucosa throughout the small intestine, particular in the ileum

Question 20

What are the Peyers patches?

Answer 20

They are specialised lymphoid tissue for collecting antigen present in the GI tract

Question 21

What do the Peyers patches compose of?

Answer 21

They comprise of primary and secondary follicles located immediately beneath specialist epithelium known as follicular-associated epithelium

Question 22

What is the appendix?

Answer 22

The appendix is part of the large intestine, associated with the caecum and though to have a role in the immune system

Question 23

What does the appendix have like the tonsils have?

Answer 23

They have crypts and are susceptible to infection

Question 24

What is there debate about in the appendix?

Answer 24

There is debate whether the appendix plays a role in the immune response, because their appears to be no change in immune response when removed