LOYZAGA, ANDREA MAE.

2019-2023 IMMUNOLOGY & SEROLOGY | CHAPTER 1

Lymphoid Organs
 Provides a location where contact with foreign antigens
Introduction can occur
Organs of the Immune System have 2 types:  Spleen, lymph nodes, and various types of mucosal-
associated lymphoid tissues, and cutaneous-associated
 Primary Lymphoid Organs lymphoid tissue
 Where maturation of B and T cells takes place  Circulation of lymphocytes between secondary organs
 Bone marrow and Thymus is complex and is regulated by cell surface adhesion
 Secondary Lymphoid Organs molecules and cytokines
 Provides a location where contact with foreign  Lymphocytes travel through tissue and bloodstream via
antigens can occur thoracic duct
 Spleen, lymph nodes, and various types of mucosal  Lymphopoiesis (multiplication of lymphocytes) occurs
associated lymphoid tissues in these tissues and is antigen-dependent vs in the bone
marrow (antigen independent)
Primary Lymphoid Organs  Spleen
 Bone Marrow
 Serve as central collecting points for lymph fluid
 One of the largest tissues in the body and a main
from adjacent tissues.
source of hematopoietic stem cells
 Filtration of interstitial fluid from around cells in
 Some lymphocyte precursors remain in the marrow
the tissues is an important function of these organs
to mature and become NK and B cells (T cells
 Provide the ideal environment for contact with
mature at thymus)
foreign antigens that have penetrated the tissues
 If contact with an antigen takes place, lymphocyte
traffic shuts down. Lymphocytes able to respond to
a particular antigen proliferate in the node

 Thymus
 A small, flat, bilobed organ found in the thorax Other Secondary Lymphoid Organs
 Diminishes in size as humans age  Mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
 Site where T cells mature  Ex. Tonsils, appendix, Peyer’s patches
 Thought initially to produce enough virgin T
lymphocytes early in life to seed the entire immune  Skin (lined with intra epidermal lymphocytes and
system WBCs)
 2 portions: Thymic cortex and medulla  collectively termed as Cutaneous-associated
lymphoid tissue (CALT)
 T-cell maturation and differentiation happens as it
moves through these areas
 Mature T lymphocytes are then released from the
medulla

Secondary Lymphoid Organs

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