Lymphoid organs

1- Types of the lymphoid organs.

2- Thymus: Function& structure.
3- Lymph node: structure & function.
 Lymphoid organs
• 1-Primary (central) lymphoid organs: These are
the sites for development and maturation of
lymphocytes. They includes:
Thymus.
 Bone marrow.
2-Secondary (peripheral) lymphoid tissues:
These are the sites where lymphoid cells react
with foreign antigens to elicit an immunological
response. They include:
Lymph nodes.
Spleen.
Lymphoid nodules in the tonsils, Peyer’s
patches in the ileum and appendix.
 Thymus
• Site: in the superior mediastinum behind the
sternum.
• It is active in childhood but it progressively
atrophies at puberty where most of the
lymphoid tissue is replaced by adipose tissue.
Histological structure of Thymus

Stroma Parenchyma
Capsule

Trabeculae

Reticular fibers

Stroma
 Histological structure of the thymus
• Stroma:
Connective tissue capsule.
Connective tissue septa (trabeculae)
extend into the parenchyma divide it
into incomplete lobules.
• Parenchyma: each lobule is divided into:
 A peripheral dark cortex.
 An inner pale medulla.
T cell maturation
T cell differentiation
 I-The thymic cortex
• The cortex is darkly stained because of densely
packed cells.
• It is composed of:
1. An extensive population of thymocytes
(developing T lymphocytes).
2. Epithelial reticular cells: provide a
supporting framework (cytoreticulum) for
the developing T lymphocytes.
3. Macrophages.

5Nos: lymphoid nodules, B lymphocytes, plasma cells, reticular fibers and reticular cells.
 II- Thymic medulla
• The medulla is pale because of its loosely- packed
cells.
• The medulla of adjacent lobules is connected
together due to the incomplete lobulation of the
gland.
• The medulla contains:
1. A small number of mature small lymphocytes.
2. Few macrophages.
3. Epithelial reticular cells : large in number,
form the cytoreticulum of the medulla.
4. Hassall’s corpuscles.
 Hassall’s corpuscles
• Site: in the medulla of the thymus.
• Structure:
Concentric whorls of eosinophilic flattened
epithelial reticular cells.
The epithelial reticular cells in the center of
the corpuscle are filled with keratohyaline
granules and cytokeratin filaments and they
may calcify.
• Function: is still not fully understood.
 Vascular supply of the thymus
• The cortex is supplied by looped
capillaries that extend from the arterioles
at the cortico- medullary junction.
• The lymphocytes that reach maturity
enter the circulation through the post
capillary venules migrate to the
thymic-dependent areas of secondary
lymphoid organs homing and
activated.
 The blood-thymus barrier
• Definition: It is a barrier between the
developing T lymphocytes and the blood
in the cortical capillaries.
• Function: this barrier prevents the foreign
antigens from reaching the thymic cortex
where T lymphocytes are still in state of
maturation.
 The blood-thymus barrier
• Components:
Continuous (non fenestrated) endothelial cells of
the blood capillaries joined together by occluding
junctions.
Basal lamina of the endothelial cells.
The pericytes surrounding the capillary wall.
Macrophages in the perivascular connective
tissue.
Basal lamina of the epithelial reticular cells.
Epithelial reticular cells joined together by
occluding junctions.
 Functions of epithelial reticular cells
1- Form the cytoreticulum of the
cortex& medulla.
2- Form Hassall’s corpuscles.
3- Form the blood thymic barrier.
4- Secrete several growth factors that
stimulate T cell proliferation and
differentiation e.g. thymopoietin.
Which statement is the best to describe the
structure of the thymus?
1-It is divided by CT septa into complete lobules.
2- It contains a well developed cytoreticulum formed by reticular cells.
3- The thymic cortex contains T lymphocytes, macrophages & plasma
cells.
4- No lymphoid nodules characterize the parenchyma.
Which statement is the best to describe the
structure of the thymus?
1-It is divided by CT septa into complete lobules.
2- It contains a well developed cytoreticulum formed by reticular cells.
3- The thymic cortex contains T lymphocytes, macrophages & plasma
cells.
4- No lymphoid nodules characterize the parenchyma.
 Lymph nodes
• Site: They are located along the course
of the lymphatic vessels.
• Function: filtration of the lymph.
• Shape: small kidney shaped bodies(
indented at the hilum where arteries
enter while veins and efferent lymphatic
vessels leave the lymph node).
Histological structure of lymph node

Stroma Parenchyma
 I- Stroma

Capsule
Fibroelastic

Trabeculae
-Perpendicular to capsule,
-Divide the cortex into incomplete
compartments.
-In the medulla: they run in different
Reticular CT directions.

Support the parenchymal cells& lymph sinuses

 II-Parenchyma
• It is divided into an outer dark cortex and
inner pale medulla.
A- Cortex: it is divided into two regions:
1- Outer cortex:
It is situated under the capsule.
It consists of the cortical lymphoid
nodules separated by the cortical lymph
sinuses.
 The lymphoid nodules
• Definition: rounded or oval dense lymphoid tissues
formed by B lymphocytes and macrophages.
• Types:
 Primary lymphoid nodules: which are not activated yet
by lymph borne antigen.
 Secondary lymphoid nodules:
• When the lymph node is activated by lymph- borne
antigens.
• the B lymphocytes at the center of the nodule develop
into lymphoblasts (larger, loosely packed ) forming
pale central areas called germinal center.
• The result of germinal center formation is the
production of an expanded population of B memory
cells and plasma cells.
Types of lymphoid nodules Primary lymphoid nodules Secondary lymphoid nodules

1- Structure B lymphocytes & macrophages without Contain B lymphocytes and macrophages

germinal center. + germinal center (consists of less closely
packed lymphoblasts and plasma cells).

2- Function Not activated by foreign antigen. Activated by foreign antigen with

production of plasma cells and B memory
cells.
 II-Parenchyma
B-Inner cortex (thymus- dependent
zone/the paracortical area): it consists
mainly of T lymphocytes which are not
arranged as nodules.
 II-Parenchyma
B-Medulla:
It is formed of dense lymphoid
tissue of cells called the medullary
cords consisting of densely packed
B lymphocytes, plasma cells and
macrophages.
These cords branch and
anastomose and are separated by
medullary lymph sinuses.
 II-Parenchyma
C-The loose lymphoid tissue: it is
formed of loosely scattered
lymphocytes, plasma cells and
macrophages with lymph sinuses
surrounding the dense cortical
lymphoid nodules and medullary cords.
 Lymph circulation in the lymph node
• Afferent lymphatic vessels cross the
capsule and drain lymph into the
subcapsular sinuses the trabecular
sinuses the medullary sinuses
the efferent lymphatic vessels.
Lymphadenopathy
Which statement is the best describing the
inner cortex of the lymph node?
1- It contains numerous lymphoid nodules.
2- The parenchymal cells arranged in the form of branching cords.
3- It is populated by large number of T lymphocytes.
4- It is divided into lobules by connective tissue septa.
Which statement is the best describing the
inner cortex of the lymph node?
1- It contains numerous lymphoid nodules.
2- The parenchymal cells arranged in the form of branching cords.
3- It is populated by large number of T lymphocytes.
4- It is divided into lobules by connective tissue septa.