Organs of the immune system
The immune system can be distinguished by function as the:
- Primary Lymphoid organs --> Thymus & Bone marrow
- Secondary lymphoid organs –> Lymph nodes, Spleen & Various Mucosal Lymphoid Tissues (MALT), such as Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT).
- Tertiary lymphoid organs –> Cutaneous-associated lymphoid tissues
Primary Lymphoid organs:
- Only after a lymphocyte has matured a primary lymphoid organ is the cell immune competent.
- In mammals, T-cells mature in the "Thymus" and B-cells mature in the "Bone marrow” (in Bursa of Fabricus in birds).
- There are TWO cells in the Primary Lymphoid Organs – Thymus and Bone Marrow.
Secondary lymphoid organs
- Lymph nodes and the spleen are the most highly organized of the secondary lymphoid organs.
- Less-organized lymphoid tissue, collectively called "Mucosal-Associated lymphoid Tissue"(MALT), is found in various body sites.
- MALT includes -> Peyer's patches (in the small intestine), the tonsils, & the Appendix.
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