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Faizan
Inside the body, the immune system is made up of an 'army' of special cells. These defenders each have different functions and are located in different areas of the body. For instance, some do their work in the bloodstream, tonsils, appendix and spleen, while others work in the gut and lymph nodes.
For the purposes of this article, we are going to look at the specific role of the lymphatic system in supporting immunity.
What is the lymphatic system?
The lymphatic system is made up of:
Lymphocytes: These are a form of small white blood cell that determine the type of immune response to infectious microorganisms and other foreign substances that enter the body.
Lymph: This is a clear fluid, which bathes the tissues and carries immune cells (such as B and T lymphocytes). The lymphatic system collects excess fluids, nutrients, gases, ions, hormones, enzymes and plasma proteins from surrounding tissues and returns them to the blood circulation, once pathogens, toxins and waste matter have been filtered out.
Lymph vessels: Fluids move out of our blood capillaries into tissue spaces, and then into lymph capillaries. These then join to form larger lymph vessels. The lymph vessels carry lymph.
Lymph nodes: Located along the lymph vessels, these are small glands interspersed along lymphatic vessels. They act as collection sites and cleaning filters, which form part of an immune system response against infection. Lymph must pass through them, before entering the blood.
Tonsils: Tonsils are the two lymph nodes located on each side of the back of your throat. They function as a defence mechanism, helping to prevent infection from entering the rest of your body.
The thymus gland: Located behind the sternum and between the lungs, this gland is only active until puberty. After puberty, the thymus starts to shrink and is gradually replaced by fat. Thymosin is the hormone of the thymus, and it stimulates the development of disease-fighting T cells.
Peyer's patches: These are small masses of lymphatic tissue found in the small intestine. They form an important part of the immune system by monitoring intestinal bacteria populations and preventing the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestines.
Did you know that arguably the most important part of your immune system is in your gut? A massive 70% of all antibody-producing cells are located in Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT), found in the intestine. GALT is considered the largest collection of immune cells in the body.
The spleen: The spleen is an organ found on the left-hand side of your upper abdomen. Its main functions are to filter the blood, create new blood cells and store platelets. It is also a key part of the immune system.
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