Immune System Structures, Components and Functions

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Veterinary Science
The Army Within
Immune System Structures, Components and
Functions By Tim Savelle Agriculture
Teacher Morgan County High School
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The Army Within
Soldiers
Basic Training
Scouts
Outposts
Artillery
Infantry
Camps
Sentries
Roving Patrols
Officers
Special Forces
Intelligence
Headquarters
Reinforcements
Search Destroy
Supply Lines
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Immune System

• Protects body from harmful substances
• Includes
• Lymphatic system
• Respiratory system
• Gastrointestinal system
• Integumentary system

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Lymphatic System

• Primary immune system component (Disease
  Defense System)
• Functions
• To control flow of lymph fluid
• To produce lymph system components
• To filter lymph fluid and blood

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Lymphatic System Structures

• Lymph Fluid
• Interstitial fluid (fluid between cells)
• Clear, colorless tissue fluid
• Helps feed cells with nutrients
• Moves hormones around body
• Removes transports waste from cells

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Lymphatic System Structures

• 2. Lymph Vessels (capillaries)
• Thin-walled tubes separate from blood vessels
• Contain valves to prevent backflow
• Move lymph fluid into lymph nodes for filtering

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Lymphatic System Structures

• 3. Lymph Nodes
• Filter lymph fluid
• Remove bacteria and viruses
• Store white blood cells

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Lymphatic System Structures

• 4. Tonsils
• Masses of lymph tissue
• Contain lymph nodes and lymph vessels
• Protect nose and upper throat

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Lymphatic System Structures

• 5. Spleen
• Lymphatic tissue located in the cranial thoracic
  region
• Produces white blood cells
• Filters blood
• Stores red blood cells

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Lymphatic System Structures

• 6. Thymus
• Lymph gland located medially in the cranioventral
  area of the thoracic cavity
• Most active in young animals
• Place where some white blood cells produced in
  bone marrow reproduce and mature

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Lymphatic System Structures

• Bone Marrow
• Located in the epiphysis of long bones
• Produces white blood cells

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Lymphatic System Components

• White Blood Cells (Leukocytes)
• Lymphocytes
• Attack specific antigens
• Formed in lymph structures bone marrow
• Monocytes
• Very large
• Formed in bone marrow
• Mature in thymus

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Lymphatic System Components

• Macrophages
• Phagocyte (eats cells)
• Develop from monocytes
• Eats invading cells
• Eats disabled antigens

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Lymphatic System Components

• T-Cells
• A type of lymphocyte
• Produced in bone marrow
• Mature in thymus
• Coordinate immune system defenses
• Kill antigens directly on contact

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Lymphatic System Components

• B-Cells
• Also called plasma cells
• A type of lymphocyte
• Produced in bone marrow
• Do not kill antigens directly
• Produce and release antibodies

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Lymphatic System Components

• Antibodies
• Called Immunoglobins (Ig)
• Produced by B-Cells
• Composed of proteins
• Attack and kill specific antigens
• Lock and Key method of attack

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The Antigen/Antibody Response

• Antigens substances that the body regards as
  foreign.
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Viruses
• Parasites
• Allergens
• Toxins

E.Coli Bacteria
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The Antigen/Antibody Response

• Antigens
• Have unique, consistent surface patterns
• Patterns cause body to recognize antigens as
  enemies
• Contain surface features called antigenic
  determinants (binding sites)

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The Antigen/Antibody Response

• Antibodies disease-fighting proteins
  produced by the body in
  response to a specific antigen.
• Have binding sites that match antigenic
  determinants on antigens
• Binding sites are chemical, not physical

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The Antigen/Antibody Response
The Lock and Key

• Antibody binding sites match antigen surfaces
  like a key fits into a lock
• Most antigen binding sites are keyed to a
  matching antibody in a healthy immune system.

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The Antigen/Antibody Response
Search and Destroy

• Antigens have many binding sites on their
  surfaces.
• Antibody molecules locate antigens and bind to
  the surfaces, sometimes in chains.
• Antibodies disable (kill) antigens
• Antibodies block antigens from attaching to body
  cells
• Antibodies call macrophages to come and consume
  disabled antigens

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The Antigen/Antibody Response
Shackled Prisoners
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The Antigen/Antibody Response
How does it work?

• Antigens invade body
• Patrolling macrophages locate, recognize antigens
  as enemies, and ingest them.
• Macrophages read antigens and encode T-cells
  with antigen binding site instructions.
• Macrophages dispatch T-cells with antigen codes.

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The Antigen/Antibody Response
How does it work?

• T-cells pass antigen binding instructions to
  B-cells (plasma cells)
• Plasma cells produce and release antibodies that
  match antigen binding sites

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The Antigen/Antibody Response
How does it work?

• Macrophages find disabled antigens and consume
  them.
• Some T-cells remember antigens for faster
  response the next time an attack occurs.

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Search Destroy
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The Army Within
Immune System Response

• Primary Response (1st infection or vaccination)
• Lymphocytes decode antigens
• Lymphocytes produce antibodies
• Secondary Response (future infections)
• T-cells with memory stored in lymph nodes
• Rapid response time at next infection

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The Army Within
How can we help it fight its battles?

• Good general health
• Good nutrition
• Vaccines (specific antigens)
• Antitoxins (antibodies)
• Immune system boosters
• Stimulate lymphocyte production
• Improve lymphocyte response time

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The Army Within
Infantry Soldiers Antibodies
Basic Training B-Cells
Officers T-Cells
Outposts Lymph Nodes
Intelligence Macrophages
Headquarters Spleen
Special Forces B-Cells, T-Cells
Supply Lines Lymph Capillaries
Roving Patrols Macrophages
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The Army Within
The End