The Lymphatic System

Combining Forms Aden/ogland Angi/ovessel (blood or lymph) Hem/oblood Hist/otissue Immun/oimmune Lymph/o lymph Splen/ospleen Thym/othymus gland Tox/opoison

Prefixes / Suffixes Ana- against, up, back -cele hernia, swelling -cyte cell -gen forming, producing, origin -ic pertaining to -megaly enlargement -oid resembling -oma tumor -pathy disease -phylaxis protection -plasty surgical repair -poiesis formation, production -rrhage bursting forth of

Abbreviations / Terms B-cells lymphoid cell that makes antibodies T-cells lymphoid cell that attacks invading cells MALT Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Antibody made in response to foreign antigens Antigen protein marker on a cell Agranular without sandy appearance Granular having a sandy appearance Interstitial between cells Pathogen disease causing agent

Functions of the Lymphatic System Provide immunity to the body by protecting against disease Identify and kill pathogens and tumor cells Produce white blood cells and antibodies Filters out organisms that cause disease

Structures of the Lymphatic System Tonsils Lymph vessels Lymph nodes Thymus Spleen Appendix Peyer’s patches Bone marrow

Tonsils and Adenoids Lymphoid tissue located on either side of the throat Destroy harmful organisms that enter the body through the mouth

Lymph Vessels Similar to veins in the circulatory system One directional, towards the heart Have valves Fluid from interstitial spaces flow into lymph vessels

Lymph vessels Fluid from interstitial spaces flow into lymph vessels Fluid is pushed through the lymph vessels by skeletal muscle contractions Eventually the fluid is dumped into the internal jugular and subclavian veins of the circulatory system

Lymph Nodes Filters or traps foreign particles Contain white blood cells Found throughout the body in the neck, armpit, chest, abdomen, elbows, groin, and knees along the lymphatic vessels

Thymus Located posterior to the sternum Decreases in size after the age of two once the immune system is well established Where T-cells mature

Spleen The largest lymph organ Similar to lymph nodes but much larger and filled with blood Serves as a reservoir for blood Filters or purifies the blood and lymph

Appendix Located off inferior edge of the large intestine in the right lower quadrant In early years it produces antibodies and is the location of some B cell maturation In adults lymphatic tissue accumulates until the person’s 30s, then decreases and almost disappears by age 60 In adulthood it has a similar function to the Peyer’s Patches, to eliminate pathogens in digesting food

Appendix

Peyer’s Patches Located in small intestine, primarily the Ileum Similar to lymph node Control the amount of bacteria and pathogens in the gastrointestinal track

Bone Marrow Found within bones Contains tissue that produces T-cells and B-cells Location of B-cell maturation

White Blood Cells Protect against infection and disease. Produced in the bone marrow and move to other parts of the body until they’re needed to fight infection. Not released into the bloodstream until they’re needed.

Leukoctyes Types of WBCs –Agranular Lymphocytes –T-cells (destroys pathogens) –B-cells (make antibodies) Monocytes/ Macrophages (“big eaters”) –Granular Basophils (allergies) Neutrophils (first on the scene) Eosinophils (kills parasites)

T-Cells Helper T-cells recognize a foreign cell and activate the B-cells Killer T-cells destroy foreign cells by breaking holes in the cell membrane Suppressor T-cells slow down B and T-cells when the number of invading cells has decreased

B-Cells Plasma cells make antibodies that fight invading cells. They recognize and inactivate them. These cells stay around for days Memory B-cells remember the invading cells for afterwards. When the same invading cells are seen again later these cells activate the immune response quickly and intensely

Erythrocytes Red Blood Cells are bioconcave discs with no nucleus –Contain hemoglobin –Carry oxygen –Have antigens on the surface of each cell

Blood Typing There are more than 30 antigens found on blood cells The most common typing groups are the ABO group and the Rh group (the +/-)

Thrombocytes Platelets –Smallest formed element of blood –Respond to chemicals released from damaged blood vessels, making them sticky –Form clots Steps of clotting 1.Vascular spasm 2.Platelet plug 3.Coagulation

Diseases and Disorders Immune System

Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn HDN When the mother is Rh- and the fetus is Rh+, blood from the fetus enters the mother’s blood during birth. The mother’s body recognizes the foreign antigens and makes antibodies to fight them off. The first Rh+ fetus usually has no trouble, but any of the following fetuses (if Rh+) will cause a massive secondary reaction in the mother and the antibodies will kill off the fetus’ blood. To prevent this, Rh- mothers are given Rh antibodies during the pregnancy that stop her body’s natural reaction.

HDN Mother is Rh- Baby #1 is Rh+ Mother makes Rh antibodies If baby #2 is Rh+ Mother’s body will kill off baby’s blood

AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Contagious disease compromising the immune system Caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Capable of becoming multi drug-resistant AIDS is the final stage of the HIV infection Average incubation period for AIDS development is 10 years from point of infection Characterized by opportunistic infections There is no cure! Treatment includes a variety of chemotherapeutic agents to lengthen the patient’s life

HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus Affects T cells within the immune system Attacks the RNA of the T cell Causes the T cell to alter its DNA to become HIV When infected T cell replicates, so the T cell creates more HIV

Lupus Chronic, inflammatory, auto-immune disorder affecting many organ systems (skin, joints, internal organs) Body’s defenses are turned against itself and immune cells attack healthy tissues Most common in women, African Americans, and Asians The cause is unknown but they believe it occurs after exposure to an organism that is similar to particular proteins in the body Symptoms include fever, fatigue, weight loss, rash on the face, sensitivity to sunlight, arthritis, swollen glands, muscle pain, nausea, chest pain, seizures, and psychosis There is no cure, but treatments include medications such as corticosteroids

Mononucleosis Also known as the kissing disease Infectious inflammatory disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus Most commonly affects young adults between the ages of 15 and 25 If fatal it is usually due to a ruptured spleen during activity Spread by the transfer of saliva Symptoms include fever, sore throat, swollen glands, enlarged spleen, muscle pain, and fatigue There is no specific treatment available