Histology of the immune system

1.Thymus Lab1
2.Lymph Node
3.Spleen Lab2
4.Tonsil dr. Timofte Andrei Daniel
 Immune System
• Immune response = mechanism directed against "non-self" - various
substances and microorganisms.
• The immune response is generated by organs and cells of the immune system.
• Lymphocytes play the main role and determine 2 types of immune response:
• Humoral - Antibodies.
• Cellular - neutralization of Antibodies = action of cytokines and various immune
cells

• The structure of the immune system:

• generator Compartment (Hematogenous bone marrow) - CFU
• b. Central lymphoid organs (primary): HBM (for LyB) + thymus (for LyT)
• c. Peripheral lymphoid organs (secondary):
• - encapsulated: lymph node + spleen
• - hemiencapsulated: MALT
 Thymus
Thymus = parenchymal organ
Primary lymphopoiesis for LyT = antigen independent + polyclonality

a. capsule = dense irregular connective tisseu - septa

here: vessels, nerves, and lobules of white and brown adipose
tissue
b. stroma = EPITHELIAL - CERS - stromal epithelial-reticular cells
c. parenchyma - LyT = thymocytes

Septae incompletely penetrate the parenchyma, delining pseudolobules.

Each pseudolobe has: a peripheral area (basophilic) = cortex and
a central (pale) area = medulla.
The medullas of the pseudolobules are not separated by septa (incomplete
septa), communicating with each other, so that the observable appearance
on microscopic preparations is of FALSE complete separation in lobules.
Thymus
The cortex of the Pseudolobules are
composed of a large population of pre-T
lymphocytes (thymocytes), dispersed
CERS, and several sentinel
macrophages.

CERS in the cortex are difficult to

observe in the LM, being hidden by the
abundance of thymocytes,

CERS I, II, III – specific to cortex

(special characters in EM) - nursing cells
= CERS II and III
Thymus-blood barrier - CERS I
Thymus

CERS
Thymus

The medullas of the pseudolobules are

composed of a smaller population of
mature but immunologically naive T
lymphocytes, CERS.

CERS from the medulla are easily

observable in the LM:

CERS IV, V, VI - specific to the medulla

HASSAL CORPUS - the hallmark of the
thymus

HEV = post-capillary venule with high

endothelium = role in mature LyT
recruitment
Thymus

Hassal
bodies
 Timus

HEV

Sentinel macrophage
 Lymph node
Secondary lymphoid organ
Parenchymatous organ:
a.Capsule = dense irregular connective tissue
b. Stroma - CYTOFIBRILARY
c. Parenchyme Ly T + B:
2 regions:
CORTEX
a. Superficial cortex
- independent T-zone
b. deeper cortex
- dependent T zone
MEDULLARY - T and B cell cords

+ LYMPHATIC SINUSES SYSTEM:

- subcapsular sinus
- perifollicular sinuses
- paracortical sinuses
- medullary sinuses
Lymph node

DETAIL:
Capsule
Cortex with 2 zones:
T indep – deeper
T depend – superficial
Lymph node

DETAIL:
PRIMARY LYMPHOID FOLLICLE
NON-REACTIVE
Lymph node

DETAIL:
REACTIVE LYMPHOID FOLLIC
- MANTLE OF Bcells
- GERMINAL CENTER:
Clear Hemidisc
Dark hemidisc
Lymph node

DETAIL:
MEDULLARY:
-MEDULARY CORDS (T+B)
-Medulary SINUSES
HOMEWORK for LAB2:

Differential diagnosis
Thymus vs Lymph node