Main organs of the immune lymphatic system
The lymphatic and immune systems work together aganinst disease-causing agents. The two systems share main organs and they both rely on each other for their functions. The lymphatic system carries white blood cells and filters/cleanses circulation of blood and nutrients throughout the body. The immune system is activated by antigens, fighting the foreign bodies to protect its host.
The picture to the right shows the organs in action for both systems.
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Lymphatic System Overview
Main Organs:- Lymph nodes: Collect the fluid from between tissues and organs throughout the body; Filters the lymph (fluid leaked from blood vessels - circulates through the body in lymph vessels), trapping bacteria, viruses, fungi, and cell fragments; Phagocytes, immune cells, ingest the "waste" of fluids, then the lymph goes back into the circulatory system.
- Lymph vessels: Carry lymph through the body. Contains valves (like the circulatory system) to prevent "dirty" lymph to go back into the vessels. - Tonsils: Located behind the mouth and nose, it traps bacteria and other harmful bodies to enter the body. The first line of defense of the inner body (the first would probably really be the skin). - Thymus Gland: secretes hormone, thymosin, that stimulates the action of lymphocytes and produces T-cells (see "White Blood Cells" below) - Long Bones: Red bone marrow is made in "spongy bone" - see "Immune System Overview" for more information. - Spleen: Destroys old and surpassed wrythrocytes (red blood cells) and also stores blood. See "Immune System Overview" for more information. |
Immune System Overview
Organs:- Bone Marrow: (In the picture, this is referred to as "Long Bones") All immune system cells are made in the bone marrow through a process called hematopoiesis, which differentiates the different cells made in the bone marrow.
- Thymus Gland: See "Lymphatic System Overview" above. - Spleen: Contains the immune system cells, such as T-cells, B-cells, and killer cells, and cleanses the blood through activation of these cells. - Lymph Nodes: See "Lymphatic System Overview" - Adenoids and Tonsils: Adenoids are located in the back of the nasal cavity, where the passage of the cavity meets the pharynx, and tonsils are located in the back of the mouth. Together they serve as first line of defense by trapping bacteria and other disease-causing agents from entering the body. |
White Blood Cells - the Soldiers of the Immune System!
There are different types of cells in the immune system:- T-Cells: gives off a certain secretion that activates other white blood cells to fight off infection and disease. They "meet" in certain organs in the body, such as the adenoids, and from there are given orders.
- T-Killer Cells: kills certain tumor cells and parasites - Natural Killer Cells: directly destroy harmed cells in the body (T-cells do not directly battle the foreign cells) - B-Cells: Produce antibodies as response to foreign bodies in the host - Granulocytes: Remove parasites and bacteria by engulfing and dissolving them - Macrophages: They ingest foreign substances and then present them to T-cells and B-cells so they can fight the substance in the host - Denditric Cells: Engulf antigens and presents them to all the other cells for initiation of the immune system response (See Phisiology page for more information on Immune System Response) |
The Cells of the Immune System
Take a deeper look at the organs of the immune lymphatic system through these
animated pictures here! |
Here's one more link to a fun animation about the lymphatic and immune system!
Click here. |