Lymphatic

System
&
Immunity
 Lymphatic System
•Lymphatic System consists of:
a) Semi-clear liquid called lymph
b) Lymphatic vessels
c) Collection of cells & tissues
d) Primary/secondary lymph organs
•Lymph
As plasma filters through blood capillaries fluid enters the
spaces between vessels and body cells. The fluid in the
interstitial spaces is called interstitial fluid (ISF).

Lymphatic capillaries drain excess ISF and eventually

returns it to the blood supply. Once ISF enters the
lymphatic capillaries it is then called lymph.
 Lymphatic System
•Lymphatic Vessels (Lymphatics)
Carry lymph from tissues and deliver it back to blood.
Lymph is ISF that entered lymphatic vessels.
Lymphatic vessels vary in size from microscopic lymphatic
capillaries to large lymphatic trunks and ducts.
Lymphatic capillaries are present in nearly every tissue in
the body. Avascular tissue (e.g., cornea) does not contain
blood vessels nor lymphatic vessels.
Lacteals are special lymphatic capillaries located in small
intestine villi that help transport absorbed lipids.
Lymphatic Capillaries
Lymphatic Capillaries
Lateals in Small Intestine
Intestine Villus
Chylomicrons
are droplets Epithelial cells
of fats mixed
with lymph Chylomicron

Small Intestine
Lumen

Lateal
Lymphatic Capillaries-to-Lymphatic Ducts
•Lymphatic capillaries collect excess
ISF.
•Lymph flows from capillaries into larger
vessels leading to even larger vessels
(afferent) that enter lymph nodes.
•Lymph exits lymph nodes via efferent Cisterna chyli
diaphragm

vessels and travels either into other

lymph nodes or converges into large
lymphatic trunks.
•Lymphatic trunks drain into two large
collecting vessels: thoracic duct and the right lymphatic duct.
•Thoracic duct collects lymph from below diaphragm and from
the left side of body above the diaphragm. Right lymphatic
duct collects lymph from right side that is above diaphragm.
Lymphatic Capillaries-to-Lymphatic Ducts
Capillaries

Afferent vessels

Lymph nodes

Efferent vessels

Lymphatic trunks
Cisterna chyli

Lymphatic ducts
Lymph
node
Subclavian veins
Cisterna Chyli & Thoracic Duct
•Cisterna chyli is an sac-like
structure at base of thoracic
duct and is retro-peritoneal.
•Cisterna chyli drains lymph
from lymphatic trunks that
drain the lower abdomen,
pelvis and lower limbs.
•Cisterna chyli receives fatty
chyle from small intestines.
•The term “chyle” refers to a
milky fluid consisting of
lipids & lymph.
 Right internal Left internal
jugular vein jugular vein
Left
subclavian vein
Right Lymphatic Duct
Thoracic Duct
Right (left lymphatic duct)
subclavian vein Left
brachiocephalic vein
Superior
vena cava

Right Lymphatic Duct Thoracic Duct

(left lymphatic duct)

Cisterna chyli

Inferior
vena cava
 Lymphoid Cells & Tissues
•Lymphoid cells include phagocytic cells like macrophages
and white blood cells (leukocytes), especially lymphocytes.
•Three classes of lymphocytes:
a) B-cell lymphocytes
b) T-cell lymphocytes
c) Natural Killer cells (NK cells)
•Lymphoid tissues are connective tissues around the body
that are dominated by lymphocytes.
Lymphoid tissue that is densely packed with lymphocytes
are called lymphoid nodules.
Lymphoid nodules that line the upper respiratory tract
are called tonsils (pharyngeal, palatine and lingual).
 Lymphoid Cells & Tissues
•Since tonsils protect the epithelial lining of the respiratory
tract they are referred to as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
(MALT).
•The appendix of the large intestine is also considered a MALT.
•A cluster of lymphoid nodules that is located deep in the
lining of the small intestine is called Peyer’s patches.
Scanning Electron Micrograph

Villi Large Intestine

Peyer’s
patches

Appendix
 Lymphoid Organs
Primary & Secondary
•Primary Lymphoid Organs
a) Red Bone Marrow
Semi-solid tissue found in spongy bone.
Site of hematopoiesis.
Primarily located: Pelvis, sternum, vertebra & ribs
b) Thymus Gland
Site of T-cell lymphocyte maturation.
Located behind sternum, in front of & above heart.
Red Bone Marrow

Red marrow
in spongy
bone
 Thymus Gland
Thymus gland is
located behind
sternum and Thymus
superior to heart gland
 Thymus Gland
•Thymus gland begins to shrink
at about puberty.
•Evolutionary mystery since it
occurs with negative effects.
•Effective immune responses
depend on diverse population of
naive T-cells (not exposed to antigen).
•Thymic shrinking results in a decreased output of naïve T-cells.
Naïve T-cells are important for self-tolerance of self-antigens
and for response to newly exposed antigens.
• Loss of naïve T-cells is believed to cause a weaker
“immunosurveillance” in the elderly, increasing risk of cancer,
autoimmunity and opportunistic infections.
Secondary Lymphoid Organs
•Lymph Nodes
Small bean-shaped lymphoid organs (1mm to 25 mm).
Located throughout the body, but organized into clusters
in certain body regions:
a) Cervical nodes
b) Axillary nodes
c) Inguinal nodes (groin)
Afferent vessels deliver lymph to the nodes and efferent
vessels carry lymph away from the nodes.
Lymph nodes act like “filters” that purify lymph before it
reaches the general blood circulation.
Foreign antigens (debris or pathogens) are removed.
Axillary Lymph Node
Enlarged right
axillary lymph node
in lymphoma patient
Anatomy of Lymph Node
Germinal Center
(contains B-cells)
Lymph
node Efferent
lymphatic
vessel

Afferent
lymphatic Paracortex
vessels (contains T-cells)

Cortex

Trabeculae
(fibrous partitions)
 Anatomy of Lymph Node

Afferent vessels

Right inguinal lymph node with afferent lymphatic vessels.

Arrows indicate the direction of lymph flow.
Secondary Lymphoid Organs
•Spleen
Normal spleen us about 5 cm long and its cellular
components make up what is called the “pulp”.
Red pulp contains large amounts of red blood cells.
White pulp resembles lymphoid nodules and contains the
largest collection of lymphoid tissue in the body.
Splenic tissue is very fragile, tears easily and cannot be
surgically repaired easily. Surgical removal of spleen
(splenectomy) in often necessary when ruptured by trauma.
Splenectomized patients have a life-long increased risk
of infection.
Spleen Anatomy

cm
 Immunity & the Immune System
•Immune System
System of cells and specialized organs that enable the
body to recognize its own tissue (self-tolerance) while at
the same time resist and defend against infectious
microbes and other substances that can damage tissues.
•Immune System Components:
a) Physical/Chemical Barriers (skin & mucous membranes)
1) Multiple layers of keratin-coated skin cells.
2) Tight-fitting intercellular connectors.
3) Sweat and sebum contain powerful bacterial-
killing enzymes.
4) Enzymes in saliva and HCL in gastric juices.
b) Innate Phagocytic Cells & Adaptive Lymphocytes
c) Complement Proteins (innate immune response)
 Innate Phagocytic Cells
•The term “innate” refers to natural or inborn. These cells exist
all the time and are non-specific in their defensive actions.
a) Neutrophils
Phagocytic leukocytes that engulf any bacterial.
b) Eosinophils
Phagocytic leukocytes that engulf parasites.
c) Macrophages
Large phagocytic cells that are derived from
monocytes (leukocyte) and normally reside in
tissue where they engulf pathogens.
Macrophages (along with dendritic cells) play an
important role in activating the adaptive immune
response.
 Complement System (Proteins)
•Consists of a group of about 30 plasma proteins that
enhances or “complements” the action of antibodies &
phagocytic cells.
•Not antibodies and they are not part of adaptive immunity.
•Their concentration do not change. We are part
of innate
immunity

C
C C
Complement
Protein
Complement Proteins
Lymphocytes: Adaptive Immunity
A Late Slow Response to Specific Foreign Substances
•Immune response stimulated by exposure to foreign agents.
•Magnitude & intensity of response increases with each
successive exposure.
•Adaptive immunity begins in response to exposure and then
adapts to the particular foreign agent (highly specific).
•Characteristics of adaptive Immunity:
a) Specificity for distinct molecules.
b) Ability to “remember” and respond more
vigorously to repeated exposure.
c) Ability to react to microbial & nonmicrobial
substances.
Lymphocytes: Adaptive Immunity
•Unlike innate immunity, adaptive immunity is highly specific
•Cells of adaptive immune system are T and B lymphocytes.
Lymphocytes are a subset of WBCs (leukocytes).
•Substances capable of inducing adaptive immune responses
are called antigens (antibody generators)

B Cell
Cell
 Abs

Antibodies (Abs) produced by specialized B-cells recognize

specific microbial antigenic determinants
Antigen = Antibody Generator
 “Key Players” of Adaptive Immunity
•Lymphocytes (B-cells & T-cells)
Specifically recognize and respond to foreign antigens.
B-cell lymphocytes produce Abs
T-cell lymphocytes subsets:
a) “Killing cells” called cytotoxic T-cells (effector cells)
that destroy microbes and infected cells.
b) Helper T-cells that enable cell communication.
•Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs)
Dendritic cells & macrophages.
Activates the adaptive immune response by “presenting”
chemical profile of the microbe to be used to make (adapt)
highly specific cells that will destroy the microbe.
 Structure of Immune System
Innate Immune Responses Adaptive Immune Responses

Blood borne Physical B-Cell T-Cell

Barriers (humoral) (cell-mediated)

Complement
proteins •Skin Antigen Exposure Helper Cytotoxic
•Mucous T-cells T-cells
Innate cells membranes
•Saliva Plasma Memory Suppressor
•Neutrophils B-cells B-cells T-cells
•Stomach acid
•Eosinophils •Flushing action
•Basophils of urine and tears
Abs Functions to
•Macrophages regulate
self-tolerance for
•NK cells self-antigens
 Immunity

•The term “immunity” specifically refers to an organism’s

resistance to infection or disease.
•Collectively, the coordinated activities of the immune cells is
known as the “immune response”.
•Immune response is multi-layered and includes basic barriers
to infection (e.g., skin & mucus) as well as complicated defense
systems that provide lasting immunity (“memory immunity”).
•Immunity acquired via vaccines is referred to as “induced”.