Med Term Immune

Lymph combining form

lymph/o

Lymph function

The fluid that removes cellular waste products, pathogens, and dead blood cells from the tissues.

Lymphatic Vessels and Ducts combining form

lymphangi/o

Lymphatic Vessels and Ducts function

The capillaries, vessels, and ducts that return lymph from the tissues to the venous bloodstream.

Lymph Nodes combining form

lymphaden/o

Lymph Nodes function

Bean-shaped structures of the lymphatic system where pathogens and other harmful substances are filtered from the lymph by specialized cells of the immune system.

Tonsils and Adenoids combining form

tonsill/o adenoid/o

Tonsils and Adenoids function

Lymphoid structures of the lymphatic system that protect the entry to the respiratory system.

Spleen combining form

splen/o (Note

Spleen function

A sac-like mass of lymphoid tissue with protective roles in both the immune and lymphatic systems.

Bone Marrow combining form

myel/o

Bone marrow function

Produces lymphocytes, which are specialized leukocytes (white blood cells)

Lymphocytes combining form

lymphocyt/o

Lymphocytes function

Specialized leukocytes that play important roles in immune reactions.

Thymus combining form

thym/o

Thymus function

A gland located in the upper chest with specialized roles in both the lymphatic and immune systems

Anti-

against

carcin/o

cancerous

immun/o

immune, protection, safe

lymph/o

lymph, lymphatic tissue

lymphaden/o

lymph node or gland

lymphangi/o

lymph vessel

Neo-

new/strange

ne/o

new/ strange

-oma

tumor, neoplasm

onc/o

tumor

phag/o

eat, swallow

-plasm

formative material of cells

sarc/o

flesh, connective tissue

splen/o

spleen

-tic

pertaining to

tox/o

poison, poisonous

The three main functions of the lymphatic system are to

Absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins through the lacteals of the small intestine; Remove waste products from the tissues and cooperate with the immune system in destroying invading pathogens; Return filtered lymph to the veins at the base of the neck

Each villus (singular) contains

lacteals and blood vessels

Lacteals (LACK-tee-ahlz)

specialized structures of the lymphatic system that absorb those fats that cannot be transported by the bloodstream; dietary fats are transformed in the cells of the lacteals; lymphatic vessels then return them to the venous circulation so they can be used throughout the body as nutrients

Interstitial fluid (in-ter-STISH-al) or intercellular or tissue fluid

plasma from arterial blood that flows out of the arterioles and into the capillaries, and then flows into the spaces between the cells of the tissues

Function of interstitial fluid

delivers nutrients, oxygen, and hormones to the cells ; When leaving the cells, it brings with it waste products and protein molecules that were created within the cells; about 90% of this fluid returns to the bloodstream; Lymph is made up of the remaining 10%

Lymph

a clear, watery fluid containing electrolytes and proteins; plays essential roles in the lymphatic system as it works in close cooperation with the immune system

Lymph collects

the protein molecules created within the cells as it leaves; also removes dead cells, debris, and pathogens (including cancer cells) from the intercellular spaces

lymph enters

very small capillaries within the tissues and then flows into progressively larger vessels and ducts as it travels in a one-way trip upward toward the neck; At this stage, the lymph begins to play an active role in cooperation with the immune system

Why is the lymphatic circulatory system called the secondary circulatory system

lymphatic circulatory system and blood circulatory system work closely together with similarities

Difference of blood and lymphatic circulatory system in pumping

Blood circulates throughout the entire body in a loop, pumped by the heart and leaves and reenters the blood vessels through the capillaries; lymphatic system does not have a pump-like organ, it must depend on the pumping motion of muscles to move the fluid

Lymph motion

flows in only one direction; from its point of origin, it can move only upward until it returns to the circulatory system at the base of the neck; once it enters a lymphatic capillary, it must continue this upward flow

Blood and lymph filtering

Blood is filtered by the kidneys, and waste products are excreted by the urinary system; Lymph is filtered by lymph nodes, which are located along lymphatic vessels

Why are lymphatic vessels unseen

because lymph is a clear fluid

Lymphatic capillaries

microscopic, blind-ended (sealed on one end) tubes located near the surface of the body with capillary walls that are only one cell in thickness; cells separate briefly to allow the lymph to enter the capillary; cells closing forces the lymph to flow upward and forward

Lymph flows from

the lymphatic capillaries into the progressively larger lymphatic vessels, which are located deeper within the tissues; have valves to prevent the backward flow of lymph

The larger lymphatic vessels eventually

join together to form two ducts. Each duct drains a specific part of the body and returns the lymph to the venous circulation

right lymphatic duct collects

lymph from the right side of the head and neck, the upper right quadrant of the body, and the right arm

The right lymphatic duct empties

into the right subclavian vein.

subclavian vein

the proximal part of the main vein of the arm

thoracic duct

the largest lymphatic vessel in the body, collects lymph from the left side of the head and neck, the upper left quadrant of the trunk, the left arm, the entire lower portion of the trunk, and both legs

The thoracic duct empties

into the left subclavian vein

Each small, bean-shaped lymph node contains

specialized lymphocytes that are capable of destroying pathogens

How do lymph nodes destroy pathogens

Unfiltered lymph flows into the nodes, and here the lymphocytes destroy harmful substances such as bacteria, viruses, and malignant cells; Additional structures within the node filter the lymph to remove other impurities

How many lymph nodes are there

between 400 and 700 located along the larger lymphatic vessels, and approximately half of these nodes are in the abdomen; Most of the others are positioned on the branches of the larger lymphatic vessels throughout the body

Cervical lymph nodes (SER-vih-kal)

located along the sides of the neck (cervic means neck, and -al means pertaining to).

Axillary lymph nodes (AK-sih-lar-ee)

located under the arms in the area known as the armpits (axill means armpit, and -ary means pertaining to).

Inguinal lymph nodes (ING-gwih-nal)

located in the inguinal (groin) area of the lower abdomen (inguin means groin, and -al means pertaining to)

Lymphocytes (LIM-foh-sights)

leukocytes that are formed in bone marrow as stem cells (lymph/o means lymph, and -cytes means cells); work together with the body's organs to defend the body against antigens

antigen (AN-tih-jen)

any substance that the body regards as being foreign. This includes viruses, bacteria, toxins, and transplanted tissues

three types of lymphocytes

natural killer cells, B cells, and T cells.

Lymphocytes undergo further maturation and differentiation in

lymphoid tissues throughout the body; changes enable these lymphocytes to act as specialized antibodies that are capable of attacking specific antigens

Natural killer cells (NK cells)

play an important role in the killing of cancer cells and cells infected by viruses

B cells

most effective against viruses and bacteria that are circulating in the blood

How do B cells kill their target

When a B cell is confronted with the antigen that it is coded to destroy, then that B cell is transformed into a plasma cell; Plasma cells secrete a large volume of antibodies coded to destroy specific antigens

T or F , Each lymphocyte makes a specific antibody that is capable of destroying a specific antigen

true

T cells get the T in their name from

their origin in the thymus

T cells function

play a central role in cell-mediated immunity, act as intracellular signals to begin the immune response

Cytokines (SIGH-toh-kyens)

group of proteins such as interferons and interleukins released primarily by the T cells

Interferons (in-ter-FEAR-onz) (IFNs)

produced in response to the presence of antigens, particularly viruses or tumor cells.

Interferons function

activate the immune system, fight viruses by slowing or stopping their multiplication, and signal other cells to increase their defenses.

Interleukins (in-ter-LOO-kinz) function

play multiple roles in the immune system, including directing B and T cells to divide and proliferate

lymphoid means

pertaining to the lymphatic system or resembling lymph or lymphatic tissue

tonsils (TON-sils)

three masses of lymphoid tissue that form a protective ring around the back of the nose and upper throat

The tonsils play an important role in the immune system by

preventing pathogens from entering the respiratory system when breathing through the nose and mouth

adenoids (AD-eh-noids)

also known as the nasopharyngeal tonsils, are located in the nasopharynx, which is the upper part of the pharynx

palatine tonsils (PAL-ah-tine)

located on the left and right sides of the throat in the area that is visible at the back of the mouth.

Palatine

describes the hard and soft palates that form the roof of the mouth

lingual tonsils (LING-gwal)

located at the base of the tongue; however, they are not readily visible.

Lingual means

pertaining to the tongue

thymus (THIGH-mus)

a mass of lymphoid tissue located above the heart, reaches its greatest size at puberty and becomes smaller with age

Thymus function

As part of the endocrine system, it secretes a hormone that stimulates the maturation of lymphocytes into T cells, which leave it through the bloodstream and the lymphatic system

vermiform appendix

hangs from the lower portion of the cecum, which is the first section of the large intestine; may play an important role in the immune system

spleen

a sac-like mass of lymphoid tissue located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, just inferior to (below) the diaphragm and posterior to (behind) the stomach

Function of the spleen

filters microorganisms and other foreign material from the blood; forms lymphocytes and monocytes, which are specialized leukocytes with important roles in the immune system; hemolytic (hee-moh-LIT-ick) function; stores extra erythrocytes (red blood cells) and maintains the appropriate balance between these cells and the plasma of the blood

Hemolytic

destroying worn-out erythrocytes (red blood cells) and releasing their hemoglobin for reuse.

Pathogens

disease-producing microorganisms.

Allergens

substances that produce allergic reactions.

Toxin

poisonous or harmful substances.

Malignant cells

potentially life-threatening cancer cells

How does the immune system keep us healthy

first attempts to prevent the entry of these harmful substances into the body. If harmful substances do gain entry into the body, the immune system immediately begins working to destroy them

How does the immune system attack a specific antigen

uses a complex system of chemical signaling between specialized cells to identify, attack, and remember antigens; This is accomplished by coordinating a highly specific response based on the type of antigen and differentiating it from the body's own tissues to avoid attacking itself

Intact skin (first line of defense)

physical barrier to prevent invading organisms from entering the body; covered with an acid mantle that makes it an inhospitable environment for most bacteria

respiratory system (first line of defense)

traps breathed-in foreign matter with nose hairs and the moist mucous membrane lining of the respiratory system; tonsils form a protective ring around the entrance to the throat

What happens if foreign matter gets past the respiratory system

coughing and sneezing help expel it from the respiratory system

Digestive system (first line of defense)

digestive system uses the acids and enzymes produced by the stomach to destroy invaders that are swallowed or consumed with food

Lymphatic system (first line of defense)

lymphatic system and specialized leukocytes (white blood cells) work together in specific ways to attack and destroy pathogens that have succeeded in entering the body

antigen-antibody reaction

also known as the immune reaction, involves binding antigens to antibodies; labels a potentially dangerous antigen so it can be recognized and destroyed by other cells of the immune system