Foundation

Block

Lymphoid
Tissue

Color Index:
-Main Text -Important -Notes
Editing File
-Boy Slides-Girl Slides -Extra
Objectives:

01 Classify lymphoid tissue into: Diffuse and encapsulated

Describe the microscopic structure of the following

lymphoid organs in correlation with their function:

02 ●
●
●
Lymph Nodes
Thymus
Tonsils
● Spleen
Lymphoid tissue: (Responsible for immunity )

● Diffuse:
mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
(diffuse: immune cells in loose connective tissue)
(The mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) initiates immune responses to
specific antigens encountered along all mucosal surfaces)

● Encapsulated:
(Lymphoid tissue in form of organ)
-Lymph Nodes (L.N.) [flirtation of lymph (excessive fluid out of the
blood circulation)]
-Spleen (bloody organ, destroy and recycle old blood cells)
-Tonsils (are incompletely encapsulated)
-Thymus (responsible for maturation of T-lymphocytes)
‫‪Lymphoid tissue:‬‬
‫‪Lymphocyte‬‬
‫ﻣوزﻋﺔ ﻓﻲ أﻧﺣﺎء اﻟﺟﺳم ﻛﺄﻧﮭﺎ ﻣﺣطﺎت‬
‫ﻣرﺗﺑطﺔ ﺑﺷﺑﻛﺔ‪ ،‬ﺗﻧﻘﻲ اﻟﺳواﺋل اﻟﺗﻲ ﺗﺻل‬
‫اﻟدم‬

‫)‪( inactive form, the nucleolus not clear‬‬

Lymph Nodes (L.N.)
Lymph Nodes (L.N.)
● Ovoid, kidney shaped organs
● Size: 2 mm up to 12 mm.
● Example: Inguinal Lymph Node, Axillary, Cervical
● Each lymph node has:

- A convex surface which receives afferent

lymph vessels (there is many, to take up a lot)
- A hilum where efferent lymph vessels
leave and drain lymph from the node (just one, to Afferent,A = Arrive
filtrate slowly) Efferent,E = Exit
 Lymph Nodes
** Lymphatic sinuses is similar to
blood capillaries but larger and
contain lymph **

Stroma (Any organ have) Parenchyma

(Lymphoid tissue + Lymph sinuses)
(Functional part)

Capsule Reticular
(dense irregular Cortex Medulla
collagenous C.T.) C.T.

Trabeculae
Paracortex
(septa)
Lymph Node (L.N.)

● Each lymph node has a dense connective tissue capsule

● From the capsule, connective tissue septa (trabeculae)
extend into the outer part (cortex) of the node and
divide it into incomplete compartments
● The framework of the node is formed by reticular
connective tissue
Lymph Node (L.N.)
Each lymph node is divided into three regions:

● Cortex
● Paracortex
● Medulla

(The filtration goes through 3 stages)

Lymph Nodes (L.N.): CORTEX
Contains the:

1. Subcapsular lymphatic sinus (med43)

2. Cortical sinuses
3. Lymphoid nodules (primary & secondary) composed
mainly of :
a. B- lymphocytes
b. and macrophages
Lymph Nodules : (Follicles)

-Lymph nodules are small masses of lymph tissue

(lymphocytes)

Lymph nodules may be:

● Primary nodules: formed of virgin B lymphocytes

without germinal centers. (still new, not activated)
● Secondary nodules: with paler germinal centers. (‫ﻛﺄن ﻓﯾﮭﺎ ﻓراغ‬
‫)ﻣن اﻟوﺳط‬ (activated of B-lymphocytes,they will become
plasma cell)
Secondary Nodules

Contain:

● Germinal centers, central light areas filled with activated

B lymphocytes (B lymphoblasts), plasma cells and
macrophages.

● The germinal centre is surrounded by a darker-staining

region called the corona (formed of inactive
B-lymphocytes and macrophages). -Corona is dark stain
surround Germinal (Coronavirus darkens our life)
Lymph nodes (L.N): (PARACORTEX)

● It is the region between cortex and medulla.

● It is the thymus dependent zone (area) and contains
active T lymphocytes
● Has NO nodules (NO follicles)

Place in lymph node rich in T lymphocytes ? Paracortex

Lymph nodes (L.N): (MEDULLA)
Consists of:

● Medullary cords.
● Medullary lymph sinuses (there is a lot)
● The medullary cords are composed of B & T
lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages.
● The medullary lymph sinuses are continuous with the
cortical lymph sinuses
 Lymph flow through the lymph node
Afferent Lymph Vessels

Subcapsular Sinuses

Cortical Sinuses

Medullary Sinuses

Efferent Lymphatic Vessels

Lymph Node: (FUNCTION )

● Maintenance and Proliferation of:

○ B lymphocytes (from bone marrow immunologically active)
○ T lymphocytes (in lymph node (programmed) active, formed in bone marrow inactive
then go to thymus gland to be immunologically active)
● Filtration of lymph from bacteria and other foreign substances.
‫‪THYMUS‬‬
‫)اﻟﻐدة اﻟزﻋﺗرﯾﺔ(‬
THYMUS
Stroma:
A
1. Capsule
2. Interlobular trabeculae:
incomplete

Thymic lobule:
B
1. Cortex
2. Medulla
The cortex stains more darkly than the medulla, because it ● Lobules are NOT Spherical
contains more lymphocytes than the medulla ● There are NO lymphatic
nodules in thymus
● Also there are NO
B lymphocytes
THYMUS C

L
L
● Bilobed lymphatic organ located in thorax
(in the chest, between sternum and heart) S
● Enclosed in a thin connective tissue capsule

● Septa (trabeculae) from the capsule into the organ,

subdividing it into incomplete lobules

● Possesses no (‫ )ﻻ ﯾﻣﺗﻠك‬lymph nodules, no lymph sinuses, no

reticular fibers.
THYMUS
● Each lobule is divided into an outer cortex
and inner medulla.
CORTEX:
is darker than the medulla because it is populated with
immunologically immature T-lymphocytes (T-lymphoblasts) (more
than 90% will die), epithelial reticular cells, and macrophages
(Why? To get rid of the dead T-lymphocytes). Here the
immature T cells undergo proliferation, and transform into
mature cells and then migrate to medulla.

1 - cortex
2 - medulla
3 - Hassall's corpuscle
4 - interlobular connective tissue
(septa)
 THYMUS
MEDULLA: Hassall’s Corpuscles:
- mature T-lymphocytes - composed of groups of concentrically
- epithelial reticular cells arranged keratinized epithelial reticular
( Epithelial reticular cells are special component only cells.
for thymus, it’s responsible for maturation of T cells ) - Are found in medulla of thymic lobules.
- thymic (Hassall’s) corpuscles (Only in medulla)
- macrophages. - Probably represent a degenerative
process

1 - cortex
2 - medulla Hassall’s corpuscle
3 - Hassall's corpuscle
4 - interlobular connective
tissue (septa)
 THYMUS

01 03
Function: Remnants of thymus
Formation, Maturation remain in adult to form
of T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes.

It involutes after

02 04
NO B lymphocytes,
puberty and becomes
NO plasma cells in the
infiltrated by adipose
thymus.
tissue.
TONSILS
(‫)اﻟﻠوز‬
 TONSILS
Palatine tonsils

● The tonsils
(palatine (back of the throat), Incomplete capsule
Bilateral, located at the
pharyngeal (near the nasal cavity), and separates its deep aspect
entrance of the
lingual (posterior part tongue)) are from the wall of the
oropharynx.
incompletely encapsulated pharynx.
aggregates of lymphoid nodules
that guard the entrance to the
pharynx.
The superficial aspect is
● Function: production of antibodies. covered by stratified The parenchyma is
squamous nonkeratinized composed of lymphoid
epithelium that dips into nodules with germinal
10-12 crypts. To increase centers.
the tonsils surface area.
SPLEEN
(‫)اﻟطﺣﺎل‬
Stroma of Spleen
1-Capsule:
● is covered by visceral layer of
peritoneum; mesothelium
● Is formed of fibromuscular C.T. :
(Dense fibrous C.T. + smooth
muscle cells)(In emergencies such as hemorrhage,
smooth muscle in the vessel walls and in the capsule of the
spleen contracts and this squeezes the blood out of the spleen
into the general circulation)

2-Trabeculae:
● Are irregular, incomplete, divide
the spleen into
intercommunicating
compartments (lobules).
3-Reticular C.T.
Parenchyma of Spleen

● White Pulp:
1-Periarterial lymphatic sheaths (PALS): housing T lymphocytes.
2-Lymphoid follicles (with germinal centers): housing B
lymphocytes.
○ N.B. Both 1&2 surround the central arteriole (follicular
arteriole)

● Red pulp:
1-Splenic (pulp) cords: contain Extravasated blood cells,
lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages & reticular cells, fibers.
2-Splenic blood sinusoids: Are lined -No cortex,
with elongated endothelial cells with -No medulla,
large intercellular spaces & supported -No afferent lymphatic
by discontinuous, circular basement vessel.
membrane.
Cells of parenchyma Splenic
of spleen Microcirculation

01 Lymphocytes

02 Plasma cells

03 Macrophages

04 Blood elements (RBCs,

leucocytes and blood platelets)
 Functions of Spleen

Phagocytosis of old Production &

RBCs & old blood proliferation of Production of
Filtration of blood antibodies
platelets & invading immunocompetent
microorganisms B & T lymphocytes
MCQs
1- Place in lymph node rich in T lymphocytes ?

A- Cortex B- Paracortex C- Medulla D- Stroma

2- Which one of these is not found in the spleen ?

A- White pulp B- Capsule C- Afferent D- Trabeculae

lymphatic
vessels

3- Which of the following possesses no lymph nodules, no lymph sinuses, no

reticular fibers?

A-Thymus B- Lymph node C- Spleen D- Tonsils

MCQs
4- Where can we find the Thymus dependent zone?

A- Cortex of lymph B- Paracortex of D- Medulla of C- Palatine tonsils

node lymph node lymph node

5- The germinal center in secondary nodules is surrounded by :

A- Dark stain called B- Light dark C- Other cells D- Dark stain called
gerinol corona 1 B

2 C

3 A
6- Presence of ............ leads to enlarged lymph node.
4 B

A- Red blood cells B- Antigens or C- Neutrophils D- Antibodies 5 D

bacteria 6 B
 The Team
Team Leaders:
● Ahmad Addas ● Hessah Alghanim

Team Members:

● Saud Alsaeed ● Joud Alahmari

● Fahad Alqahtani ● Lulwah Alwabel
● Abdulaziz Alobathani ● Hessah Alyousef
● Ibrahim Albabtain ● Haneen Baatiah
● Fahad Albalawi ● Norah Alnoshan
● Faisal Alessa ● Lina Albaqiyh
● Yazan Alkheder ● Layan Alsubaie
● Ziyad Bukhari ● Ghaida Alotaibi
histology.444ksu@gmail.com