Summary
Summary The functions of the lymphatic system
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The functions of the different components of the lymphatic system
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The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and organs that transport a liquid called lymphand it works in conjunction with your circulatory system as it samples tissue fluid that has
come from plasma in your blood and returns it. Lymph also contains many things your body
needs like fats and white blood cells called lymphocytes.
Functions
Tonsils = The tonsils are masses of soft lymphoid tissue and are located behind the mouth
cavity on each side of the pharynx forming a ring around the oropharynx and the
nasopharynx. It is the starting point of the respiratory tract and is the first line of defence
against unwanted pathogens or foreign cells. The tonsils trap inhaled or consumed bacteria
in pits called crypts and use stored lymphocytes called B cells and T (white blood cells) that
help the tonsils to create antibodies to neutralise the threat to help prevent illness/infection.
This helps with the defensive and protective role of the lymphatic system.
Spleen = The spleen is the largest lymphatic organ, it is located in between the stomach and
the diaphragm
and is responsible for filtering the blood. In the red pulp ( the area in the spleen responsible
for blood cell filtering), Once receiving blood from the splenic artery, old/damaged
erythrocytes (red blood cells) are removed and broken down into products like iron which are
eventually returned to bone marrow and recycled into haemoglobin. The red pulp also
provides a big storage site for thrombocytes (platelets). In the white pulp of the spleen(the
area for immune functions), T cells detect pathogens and signal to B cells. B cells then
produce the antibodies necessary to eliminate them. It is part of the lymphatic system as it
helps reinforce the protective and defensive role that the lymphatic system plays.
Thymus gland = The thymus gland is located between your lungs behind the breastbone,
above your heart. It is made up of epithelial cells as well as immature and mature
lymphocytes (white blood cells formed in red bone marrow) and fat tissue. T cells are tested
and undergo positive selection in the cortex to see if they can respond to foreign antigens
and then go through negative selection in the medulla to check that they don't bind to self-
antigens. It's important T cells mature so they don't become autoimmune. These T cells will
then go to the rest of the body and carry out important immune responses. This is an
important part of the lymphatic system as these T cells go on to circulate lymph fluid to aid in
the protection and defensive role.
Peyer’s patches = Peyer's patches are small masses of lymphatic tissue similar to the tonsils
called nodules and are located on the ileum of the small intestine. Peyer's patches are
responsible for sampling material in your small intestine; they do this as specialised cells
called M (microfold) cells feed antigens to dendritic cells/macrophages of your Peyer's
patches and these antigens are then shown to B and T cells and they determine whether it
requires an immune response. if it does, Peyer's patches signal a full-body immune
response before it can spread beyond the intestines. This also helps with the defensive role.
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