Blood, Lymph, & Immune Systems

Anatomy, Physiology, Diagnostics, Procedures, and Pathology

Some General Terms:

Anaphylaxis Antibody (Ab) Antigen (Ag) Cellular immunity: requires T cells and is usually

slower to develop than humoral Host Humoral immunity-requires antibodies and is

typical a rapid response compared to cellular

More General Terms

Immunopathology: study of disease of the immune system Immune compromise Autoimmunity Anaphylaxis/allergy

Opportunistic infections Serum: thick yellowish fluid that, along with the

cells, make up whole blood (only 8% of body tissues)

Blood Composition

Fluid component Plasma Serum: does not have clotting factors

Cellular component White cells of many types Red cells platelets

Plasma and Serum

Plasma Thin, mostly (92%) aqueous fluid Blood cells are suspected in this Contains proteins, hormones, etc

Serum Same as above except for clotting factors Blood tests measure serum values

Blood Cells

White blood cells (WBC) Leukocyte Inflammatory reaction to injury, defense against

infection & foreign materials Red blood cells (RBC)

Transport and exchange oxygen between the lungs and peripheral tissues

Platelets Part of clotting mechanism, stops hemorrhage

Blood Cells

All start out as general stem cells (marrow) Diaphyses of long bones, skull, ribs, vertebrae,

pelvis, sternum Called hematopoiesis

Differentiate into the 3 types of cells Erythropoiesis Leukopoiesis thrombopoiesis

Erythrocytes

Most numerous blood cell Have no nucleus Biconcave disc shape Immature circulating RBC’s=reticulocytes Contain hemoglobin (Hb) molecules

Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide Chemical recycling of Hb into hemosiderin

Leukocytes

Many functions Some WBC are in blood, others can migrate

to tissues Categories

GranulocytesHave granules in their cytoplasmMost numerous of the WBC’s

Agranulocytes

Granulocytes

Have granules filled with various chemicals in their cytoplasm

Have a multilobed nucleus polymorphonuclear

3 types Neutrophil = most numerous Eosinophil basophil

Types of Granulocytes

Neutrophils Motile phagocytes Engulf and destroy invading organismsforeign material First cells at injury site

Eosinophils Granules contain numerous chemical mediators that

neutralize other compounds Associated with allergic reactions and parasitic

infections

Types of Granulocytes

Basophils Granules contain histamine and heparin

Agranulocytes

No lobes in their nuclei (mononuclear cells) 2 types

MonocytesEnter tissues to become macrophages (phagocytes)Associated with immunity

LymphocytesB cells, T cells (humoral & cellular immunity)Natural killer cells (fight cancer cells, infected cells)

Platelets

Smallest blood cells Fragments of other cells

Also called thrombocytes Initiate blood clotting

Clotting Mechanism

Tissue injury starts thromboplastin release. Thromboplastin, other clotting factors, and calcium

combine to form prothrombin activator. Prothrombin activator lyses prothrombin into

thrombin Thrombin converts fibrinogen into fibrin Fibrin fibers form a net that traps blood cells into a

gelatinous clot over injury site.

Blood Groups

Determined by the particular antigens (a protein) on the RBC surfaces of a person

Four blood types A, B, AB, O

Two surface antigens A and B

Blood Types

Type O has neither of these Ag’s, both Ab’s Type AB has both of these Ag’s, no Ab’s Type A has only A antigen and Anti-B. Type B has only B antigen and Anti-A

Type O is most common (universal donor) Type AB is least common (universal recipient)

Lymph System

A circulating fluid that contains lymphocytes and monocytes.

Vessels are called lymphatics (vessels) Other anatomical structures:

Lymph nodes (filters) Tonsils (filters in the pharynx) Thymus (makes lymphocytes into T cells) Spleen (filter)

Lymph System

Drain ECF away from tissues and return it to blood.

Filters cellular debris or infectious cells from body tissues

Transports lipids away from GI tract

Lymphatic Route

Plasma transudates out of blood capillaries Becomes ECF ECF enters lymphatic capillaries Is filtered through various lymph nodes Eventually flows through either the right

lymphatic duct into the R. subclavian vein or into the thoracic duct into L. subclavian vein

Immune System