THE IMMUNE AND LYMPHATIC

SYSTEMS
Lic. Erika Matsusita Manabe
lmatsusitam@usmp.pe
Medical English
Session No. 7
 Table of Contents
• Introduction
• The Immune System
• The Lymphatic System
• Organs
• Diseases and Disorders
• Coronavirus
• Human Coronavirus
• SARS-CoV-2
• COVID-19
• Video
• Glossary
• Sources of Information
 Introduction
The immune and lymphatic systems are two closely related systems that share
several organs and physiological functions.
 The Immune System
The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues and organs that
work together to defend us against infectious pathogenic viruses, bacteria and
fungi, as well as parasites and protists. It works to keep these harmful agents
out of the body, and attacks and destroys those that manage to enter.
 The Lymphatic System
The lymphatic or lymph system is a network of organs, lymph nodes, lymph
ducts and lymph vessels that make and move lymph from tissues to the
bloodstream. The lymphatic tissue of these organs filters and cleans the lymph
of any debris, abnormal cells or pathogens. The lymphatic system also
transports fatty acids from the intestines to the circulatory system.
 Organs
The organs involved in the immune and lymphatic systems are called lymphoid
organs, which affect growth, development and the release of lymphocytes.
 Organs
The blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are important parts of the lymphoid
organs, because they carry the lymphocytes to and from different areas in the
body. Each lymphoid organ plays a role in the production and activation of
lymphocytes.
 Organs
The lymphoid organs include: adenoids, tonsils, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen,
lymphatic vessels, Peyer's patches, appendix, bone marrow and blood
vessels.
 Diseases and Disorders
When the immune system does not function properly, it leaves the body
susceptible to an array of diseases. Allergies and hypersensitivity to certain
substances are considered immune system disorders. In addition, the immune
system plays a role in the rejection process of transplanted organs or tissue.
 Diseases and Disorders
Other examples of immune disorders include:
• Cancers of the immune system, such as lymphomas and leukemias, which
are also types of blood cancer.
• Autoimmune diseases, such as juvenile diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and
lupus.
 Diseases and Disorders
Many disorders can damage or disrupt the immune system:
• AIDS and mononucleosis (mono) are well-known infections that weaken the
immune system. They lead to serious illness.
• Sepsis is an overwhelming response of the immune system to an infection.
The body’s response to the infection triggers widespread inflammation and
causes a downward spiral of events that can end in organ damage, organ
failure and death.
 Diseases and Disorders
The lymphatic system clears away infections and keeps the body fluids in
balance. If it's not working properly, fluid builds in the tissues and causes
swelling, called lymphedema. Other lymphatic system problems can include
infections, blockage and cancer.
 Diseases and Disorders
Other examples of lymphatic disorders include:
• Lymphadenitis: infection of the lymph nodes (also called lymph glands).
• Lymphangitis: infection of the lymph vessels (channels).
• Lymphofollicular hyperplasia or lymphadenopathy: enlargement of the lymph
nodes caused by infection, inflammation or cancer.
 Diseases and Disorders
• Lymphoid hyperplasia: increase in the number of lymphocytes contained in
lymph nodes.
• Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: cancers of the lymphatic
system.
 Coronavirus
Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes on their surface. There are
four main sub-groupings of coronaviruses, known as alpha, beta, gamma and
delta. Human coronaviruses were first identified in the mid-1960s.
 Human Coronavirus
There are seven coronaviruses that can infect people. People around the
world commonly get infected with human coronaviruses 229E, NL63, OC43
and HKU1. Other human coronaviruses are: MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV and
SARS-CoV-2.
 SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is the virus
that causes a respiratory disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-
19). The virus is thought to spread from person to person through droplets
released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. It may also be
spread by touching a surface with the virus on it and then touching one’s
mouth, nose or eyes.
 COVID-19
COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is an infectious disease caused by a
newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus
will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without
requiring special treatment. Older people and those with underlying medical
problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease
and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
 Video
Watch the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z0kzYpuqhw
 Glossary
Asymptomatic
Not showing any symptoms (signs of disease or illness).
CDC (The Centers for Disease Control)
The United States' federal health protection organization.
Communicable
Similar in meaning as "contagious." Used to describe diseases that can be spread or transmitted from one person to
another.
Community spread
The spread of an illness within a particular location, like a neighborhood or town. During community spread, there's no
clear source of contact or infection.
Confirmed case
Someone tested and confirmed to have COVID-19.
Congregate settings
Public places that can get crowded and where contact with infected people can happen. This includes places like
malls, theaters and grocery stores.
Coronavirus
A type of common virus that causes respiratory illnesses.
COVID-19
The name of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
 Glossary
Epidemic
A situation where more cases of disease than expected happen in a given area or to a group of people.
Epidemiology
The branch of medicine that studies how diseases happen and spread in communities of people. A person who studies
epidemiology is called an epidemiologist.
Flattening the curve
Controlling the rate of new cases of COVID-19. The “curve” refers to a graph showing the number of cases of COVID-
19 that happen over a period of time.
High-risk group
People with an elevated risk of severe illness, or death, if they are infected.
Immunity
Your body's ability to resist or fight off an infection.
Immunocompromised
Also called immune-compromised or immunodeficient. This describes someone who has an immune system that can't
resist or fight off infections as well as most people.
Incubation period
The time it takes for someone with an infection to start showing symptoms. For COVID-19, symptoms appear from 2 to
14 days after infection.
Isolation
People who are ill are isolated from those who are healthy.
 Glossary
Mortality rate
The percentage of people who die from an illness.
Outbreak
A sudden increase of a specific illness in a small area.
Pandemic
When a new disease spreads to many countries around the world.
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
This includes masks, face shields, gloves, gowns and other coverings that healthcare workers use to prevent the
spread of infection to themselves and other patients.
Person under investigation (PUI)
PUIs are those with symptoms of COVID-19 or possible exposure to the virus who are being tested by public health
authorities.
Quarantine
Sometimes called "isolation." Quarantines keep people away from each other to prevent the spread of disease. Stay-
at-home orders are a type of quarantine.
Reagent
A substance or compound added to a mixture to see if a reaction occurs.
SARS-CoV-2
The technical name for the novel coronavirus.
 Glossary
Self-isolation
Also called self-quarantine. Separating yourself when you’re sick from healthy individuals to prevent spreading illness.
Shelter in place
An order for people to stay where they are and not leave for their own protection. A stay-at-home order is a kind of
shelter-in-place order.
Social distancing
Also called physical distancing. It means putting space between yourself and other people at all times.
Sputum: Saliva and mucus from the respiratory tract that can be collected for testing, usually by swabbing with a long
Q-tip.
Symptomatic
When a person shows signs of illness. For COVID-19, that includes cough, fever or shortness of breath.
Test kits
To test someone who is showing symptoms of novel coronavirus and is suspected to have been exposed, a healthcare
worker at a hospital or doctor’s office collects samples. The samples can be swabs of the nose or mouth and what is
called sputum, which is saliva and mucus from the respiratory tract.
Ventilator
A machine that supplies oxygen to a patient with severe lung issues.
World Health Organization (WHO)
This United Nations organization monitors and protects public health around the world.
 Sources of Information
• https://www.merriam-webster.com/
• https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es
• https://www.lexico.com/es
• https://www.britannica.com/science/blood-biochemistry
• https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/sars-cov-2
• https://medlineplus.gov/
• https://www.innerbody.com/image/lympov.html
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21199-lymphatic-system
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21196-immune-system
• https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007296.htm
• https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lymphadenitis
• https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001320.htm
• https://www.britannica.com/science/coronavirus-virus-group
• https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus/coronavirus#tab=tab_1
• https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2020/03/coronavirus-glossary-your-guide-to-the-l
anguage-of-a-pandemic.html
• https://uvahealth.com/services/covid19-glossary