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Lymphatic System part. II
BY: Amen Ullah
Lecturer: Surgical
12/25/2018 studyforum911@hotmail.com 1
Organs of the Lymphatic System
Primary organs
Red bone marrow
Thymus gland
Secondary organs
Lymph nodes
Lymph nodules
Spleen
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1. Primary lymphoid organs:
Where lymphocytes are generated
a. Bone marrow
B lymphocytes are mature in bone marrow.
Produce plasma cells, which secrete antibodies.
Antibodies immobilize antigens and “tag” them for
destruction by leukocytes (WBCs)
b. Thymus gland
T lymphocytes are mature in thymus.
Manage the immune response.
Attack and destroy foreign cells.
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2. Secondary lymphoid organs :
Initiate adaptive immune responses
Lymph node
Spleen
Appendix
Peyer’s patches
Tonsils
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Spleen
 Location
 Left epigastric region
 between 9th-11th rib
 in line of 10th rib
• Largest lymphatic organ in the body.
Function
 The spleen helps body fight infection
 Contains lymphocytes and macrophages Macrophages
engulf and destroy bacteria, dead tissue, and foreign
matter
 The spleen removes these elements from the Bloodstream
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THYMUS
THYMUS ANATOMY
o The thymus is a two-lobed structure that is positioned in the upper
chest cavity.
o The thymus is situated above the pericardium of the heart, in front
of the aorta, between the lungs, below the thyroid, and behind the
breastbone.
o The thymus has a thin outer covering called a capsule.
Features
o Consists of two elongated lobes
o Is a large organ in the fetus
o Occupies the thoracic cavity behind the sternum
o Secrete lymphopoietin
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THYMUS
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THYMUS
 Functions at peak levels only during childhood
 Produces hormones (like thymosin) to program lymphocytes
 The thymus gland is the main organ of the lymphatic system.
Located in the upper chest region.
 The primary function of this gland is to promote the development
of specific cells of the immune system called T lymphocytes.
 T lymphocytes (T-cells) are white blood cells that protect against
foreign organisms (bacteria and viruses) that have managed to
infect body cells. They also protect the body from itself by
controlling cancerous cells.
 From infancy to adolescence, the thymus is relatively large in size.
 After puberty, the thymus begins to decrease in size and continues
to shrink with age
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THYMUS HISTOLOGY
 Thymus consist of three cells:
Epithelial cells - tightly packed cells that give
shape and structure to the thymus.
Lymphocytes - immune cells that protect against
infection and stimulate an immune
response.
Kulchitsky cells { neuroendocrine }- hormone-
releasing cells.
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Conti…
 Each lobe of the thymus contains many smaller
divisions called lobules.
 A lobule consists of an inner area called the medulla
and an outer region called the cortex.
 The cortex region contains immature T lymphocytes.
The medulla region contains the larger, mature T-
lymphocytes.
 While T lymphocytes mature in the thymus, they
originate from bone marrow stem cells.
 Immature T-cells migrate from the bone marrow to the
thymus via the blood.
 The "T " in T lymphocyte stands for thymusderived.
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Mucosa-Associated Lymphatic
Tissue (MALT)
Includes:
• Peyer’s patches
• Tonsils
• Other small accumulations
of lymphoid
tissue
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Tonsils
• Definition : The tonsils are small masses of
lymphoid tissue that ring the pharynx (the
throat)
• The function: Their job is to trap and remove
any bacteria or other foreign pathogens
entering the throat.
• Disorder : sometimes they become
congested with bacteria and
become red, swollen, and sore,a condition
called tonsillitis
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Tonsils
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Lymphadenitis (adenitis)
• Swelling (enlargement) of lymph glands
• Occurs when infection present and body
making WBCs to fight infection
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Peyer’s Patches “Tonsils of the
intestine”
• Found in the wall of the
small intestine
• Capture and destroy
bacteria in the intestine
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THANK YOU
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