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Which Tissue Produces Lymphocytes And Filters Out Impurities And Harmful Substances?

Medical Terminology for Cancer

© Copyright 1996-2013

9: The Lymphatic and Immune Systems


Contents

Functions of the lymphatic system
Components of the lymphatic system
Circulation of tissue fluids
The Immune System
Cancer Focus
Roots, suffixes, and prefixes
Related Abbreviations and Acronyms
Further Resources

Functions of the lymphatic system

The key functions of the lymphatic system:

  • Drains excess fluids and proteins from tissues all around the body and returns them back into the bloodstream.
  • Removes waste product products produced by cells.
  • Fights infections.
  • Absorbs fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive arrangement and transports these into the bloodstream.

Components of the lymphatic arrangement

TE-Lymphatic system diagram
Immage source: Wikimedia License: CC-BY-3.0
Lymph
Lymph is a fluid that circulates throughout the trunk in the lymphatic organisation. It forms when tissue fluids/blood plasma (mostly water, with proteins and other dissolved substances) drain into the lymphatic organisation. It contains a high number of lymphocytes (white cells that fight infection). Lymph that forms in the digestive arrangement called chyle, this contains higher levels of fats, and looks milky white.
Lymph vessels
Walled, valved structures that comport lymph around the torso
Lymph nodes
Small bean-shaped glands that produce lymphocytes, filter harmful substances from the tissues, and contain macrophages, which are cells that assimilate cellular droppings, pathogens and other strange substances. Major groups of lymph nodes are located in the tonsils, adenoids, armpits, neck, groin and mediastinum.
Thymus
The thymus is a specialized organ of the allowed organization, located betwixt the breast bone and eye. It produces lymphocytes, is important for T cell maturation (T for thymus-derived).
Spleen
The spleen is an organ in the upper left abdomen, which filters blood, disposes of worn-out red claret cells, and provides a 'reserve supply' of claret. It contains both red tissue, and white lymphatic tissue. Unlike parts of the the spleen specialize in different kinds of immune cells.

The major (encapsulated) lymphatic organs are the lymph nodes, thymus and spleen. In addition the lymphoid tissues include:

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
These are bundles of lymphatic cells, called lymphatic nodules, located within the mucus membranes that line the gastrointestinal, respiratory, reproductive, and urinary tracts. These nodules contain lymphocytes and macrophages which defend against invading bacteria and other pathogens that enter these passages along with food, air, or urine. These nodules tin be solitary or grouped together in clusters.

Major clusters of lymphatic nodules include:

  • Tonsils: these are clusters of lymphatic tissue under the mucous membrane lining of the nose, rima oris, and throat. Lymphocytes and macrophages in the tonsils provide protection against strange substances and pathogens that enter the trunk through the nose or oral cavity.
  • Adenoids: A cluster of lymphatic tissue that hangs from the upper part of the back of the nasal cavity. Adenoids get bigger after nativity but usually stop growing by the age of seven. Like the Tonsils, they can exist removed without significantly increased take chances of infections.
  • Peyer's patches: these are clusters of lymphatic nodules in the mucosa that lines the ileum of the small intestine. They play an important role in defending against the big number of pathogens that enter the gastrointestinal organization.

Circulation of tissue fluids

Fluid in the spaces between tissues is called interstitial fluid, or 'tissue fluid'. This provides the cells of the body with nutrients (via the claret supply) and a ways of waste removal. Lymph is formed when the interstitial fluid is nerveless through tiny lymph capillaries (see diagram), which are located throughout the trunk. It is then transported through lymph vessels to lymph nodes, which clean and filter it. Lymph and so flows on to the lymphatic ducts, earlier elimination into the right or the left subclavian vein, where it mixes back with claret.

Blood is enriched with oxygen (past the respiratory system) and nutrients (past the digestive organisation), which are circulated all around the body (by the cardiovascular system). Some fluid (blood plasma) leaks out into the tissues via tiny capillaries, contributing to interstitial fluid, which eventually drains back into the lymphatic arrangement.


The Immune System

The immune system includes a diversity of defenses against viruses, bacteria, fungal infections, and parasites (such as thread worms). The lympatic system is part of the broader Immune System.

Innate immune organisation
This are the non-specific, unchanging lines of defenses which include:
  • Physical and chemical barriers to pathogens.
  • Producing cytokines and other chemic factors to recruit immune cells to sites of infection.
  • Activates the complement cascade to identify leaner, activate cells and to promote clearance of dead cells or antibody complexes.
  • Identifies and removes foreign substances present in organs, tissues, the blood and lymph, past specialised white blood cells.
  • Activation of the adaptive allowed system, through a process known every bit antigen presentation.

Adaptive immune arrangement
Adaptive (or acquired) immunity is where immunological memory is made after an initial response to a new pathogen, leading to an enhanced response to future exposure to that aforementioned pathogen. This process of caused amnesty is the basis of vaccination. This is essential because leaner and viruses are continually adapting and evolving in an 'arms race' with our allowed systems. Features of the adaptive allowed system include:
  • Recognition of specific "non-cocky" antigens, during the process of antigen presentation.
  • The generation of responses tailored to destroy specific pathogens or pathogen-infected cells.
  • Evolution of immunological memory, in which each pathogen is "remembered" by signature antibodies or T cell receptors. These retentiveness cells tin can be chosen upon to rapidly eliminate a pathogen should subsequent infections occur.
Cells of the Allowed System

There are many different cell types and sub-types involved in the immune system. Some of the main types include:

  • Lymphocytes: are white cells which circulate between blood and lymph. They play an of import function in fighting infection. In that location are many kinds of lymphocytes; the main types are T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. Lymphocytes initially develop in the bone marrow. Some migrate to the thymus, where they mature into T cells ; others mature in the bone marrow as B cells.
  • Neutrophils: are the most abundant blazon of white claret cells and are an important part of the innate immune organization. Neutrophils are a blazon of phagocyte (cells which engulf and then digest, cellular debris and pathogens). They are normally plant in the blood stream, merely are quickly recruited to the site of injury or infection following chemic signals such every bit Interleukin-8.
  • Macrophages: are another type of phagocyte and have a part in both the innate and adaptive immune systems. They attack strange substances, infectious microbes and cancer cells. Macrophages likewise stimulate lymphocytes and other allowed cells to respond to pathogens.
  • Dendritic cells: are antigen-presenting cells which act as messengers betwixt the innate and adaptive allowed systems. They are usually located in tissues in contact with the external environment such as the skin, linings of the nose, lungs, stomach and intestines. In response to pathogens they migrate to the lymph nodes where they interact with T cells and B cells to initiate the adaptive immune response.
Antigens and Antibodies
Antibodies (likewise known as an immunoglobulins) are Y-shaped proteins produced by B-cells,that bind to specific antigens on the surface of strange objects such as bacteria and viruses. This identifies and 'tags' the foreign object equally 'non-self', signalling other immune cells to attack them.
Hormones and the Allowed System
There are several hormones generated by the immune system. These hormones are mostly known as lymphokines. Steroids and corticosteroids (components of adrenaline) suppress the immune organization.

Cancer Focus

Metastatic spread of cancer via the lymph nodes
Lymph nodes close to the main tumor are often the kickoff site of metastases (spread of cancer). Lymph node metastases are rarely life threatening, but their detection is a prognostic cistron for many types of cancer as it shows the tumor has developed the ability to spread. Tumor cells may travel via the lymphatic system and spread to to lymph nodes and distant organs.
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
A dye is injected nearly the primary tumor to place the position of the picket lymph node (the first lymph node to which cancer cells are most probable to spread as the lympatic organisation drains fluid away from the tumor). The lookout node is surgically removed and a pathologist checks for the presence of cancer cells. SLNB is most frequently used to help stage chest cancer and melanoma. It is a less all-encompassing operation compared to standard lymph node surgery.
Immunosuppression
This is reduced activity or efficiency of the immune arrangement and its ability to fight infections and other diseases. Sure diseases such every bit AIDS or lymphoma tin can cause immunosuppression. It is also a common side-event of anticancer chemotherapy, leading to cancer patients having an increased adventure of infections during treatment.
Lymphoma
A general term class for malignant disease of the lymphatic tissue characterized by abnormal, uncontrolled prison cell growth. There are a number of types of lymphoma, including Hodgkin Lymphoma, with near other types classed together as Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Hodgkin Lymphoma
A malignancy of the lymphatic tissue that occurs near frequently in males, and the top incidence is between ages 15 and 35. It is characterised by progressive, painless enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen, and general lymph tissue. In Hodgkin Lymphoma Reed-Sternberg cells (a specific type of lymphocyte) become abnormal and abound in an uncontrolled way.
Internet Resource for Hodgkin Lymphoma
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)
NHL is cancer of the lymphatic tissue, that does not involve abnormal Reed-Sternberg cells (a specific type of lymphocyte). There are many different types of NHL. Some grow very slowly, whilst others grow apace and demand aggressive treatment.
Net Resources for NHL
AIDS related lymphoma
Incidence of not-Hodgkin'due south lymphoma has increased in parallel with the AIDS epidemic. Lymphomas affecting HIV infected people are mostly of the aggressive B-cell types (diffuse large cell, B-immunoblastic, or modest not-cleaved Burkitt's / Burkitt's similar lymphoma) which are less mutual in not-HIV infected lymphoma patients. The HIV virus is not thought to a straight cause of lymphoma, rather it weakens the body's defences and may increase susceptibility to other infections such as the Epstein-Barr and HHV-8 viruses which are associated with these types of lymphomas.
Internet Resources for AIDS related Lymphoma
Waldenstrom'southward Macroglobulinemia
This is a rare malignant condition, involving an excess of beta-lymphocytes (a blazon of prison cell in the allowed system) which secrete immunoglobulins (a blazon of antibody). WM usually occurs in people over sixty, but has been detected in younger adults.
Internet Resource for Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
Cancer Immunotherapy
This is handling to stimulate the patient'southward ain immune system to assail the cancer cells. Different approaches include: 1) cancer vaccination to train the allowed system to recognise the cancer cells every bit targets to be destroyed, two) giving therapeutic antibodies to recruit immune organization cells to destroy tumor cells, and three) cell based immunotherapy which is either transfusing immune cells (such as Natural killer Cells) or by administering cytokines (such every bit Interleukins) which activate the immune cells.
HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer
Homo papillomavirus (HPV) is a common cause of infection. There are over 100 different sub-types of HPV. HPV types 16 and eighteen crusade 70% of cervical cancers and are also linked to cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, penis, every bit well as the mouth and throat. Over time these can cause cells in the neck to change, leading to precancerous weather - cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), with a higher hazard of developing cancer. Vaccination against HPV 16, 18 and other 'high take a chance' types of HPV reduces the risk of developing cervical and other HPV-related cancers.
Internet Resources for HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer
Lymphedema
Lymphedma is an abnormal build up of interstitial fluid due to issues in the lymphatic system. Information technology can have many causes. In the context of cancer information technology is often a result of obstruction by a tumor or enlarged lymph nodes. It tin can also exist a side effect of radiotherapy or surgery, which has damaged the lymph vessels.

Roots, suffixes, and prefixes

Most medical terms are comprised of a root discussion plus a suffix (word ending) and/or a prefix (beginning of the word). Here are some examples related to the Lymphatic and Immune systems. For more details see Chapter 4: Understanding the Components of Medical Terminology

component pregnant example
aden(o)- gland Lymphadenopathy - illness of, or swelling/enlarged lymph nodes
immun(o)- Immunity Immunosuppression = reduced activation or efficacy of the immune system
lymph(o)- Lymph Lymphoma = tumour of lymphoid cells
lymphaden(o)- lymph node Lymphadenectomy = surgical removal of lymph node(south)
lymphangi(o)- lymphatic vessels Lymphangitis = inflammation or infection of the lymphatic vessels
splen(o)- spleen Splenomegaly = enlargement of the spleen
thym(o)- thymus Thymectomy = surgical removal of the thymus
tox(o)- poison Immunotoxicity = adverse effects on immune arrangement part resulting from exposure to chemic substances.

Related Abbreviations and Acronyms

AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
EBV Epstein-Barr virus
Hard disk drive Hodgkin'south Affliction (now known equally Hodgkin Lymphoma)
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HPV Humapapillomavirus
HSV Herpes Simplex Virus
IgA Immunoglobulin A
IgD Immunoglobulin D
IgE Immunoglobulin Due east
IgG Immunoglobulin G
IgM Immunoglobulin Chiliad
MALT Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
NHL Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma
NKT Natural killer T cell
SLNB Scout Lymph Node Biopsy

Further Resources (nine links)


Main Contents of this Guide Alphabetical Index Next Chapter: Gastrointestinal System

This guide by Simon Cotterill

First created 4th March 1996
Terminal modified: 1st February 2014

Which Tissue Produces Lymphocytes And Filters Out Impurities And Harmful Substances?,

Source: http://www.cancerindex.org/medterm/medtm9.htm

Posted by: davisvien1961.blogspot.com

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