Lymphatic System

• Innate immunity


  Non-specific and immediate, composed of a wide variety of effector mechanisms
• Adaptive immunity


  Specific, mediated by lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells, involves production of memory lymphocytes
• Cytokines


  Diverse group of peptides and glycoproteins that coordinate cell activities in the innate and adaptive immune responses
• Antigen

  Molecule recognized by cells of the adaptive immune system that typically elicits an immune response
• Antibody

  Glycoprotein of the immunoglobulin family that interacts specifically with an antigenic determinant
• Antigen presentation

  • Cellular lymphocytes are primarily in charge of eliminating the antigen
  • Humoral antibodies are primarily responsible for the response
• Primary lymphoid organs

  • Thymus
  • Bone marrow
• Secondary lymphoid organs


  • Lymph nodes
  • Spleen
  • Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
• Components of innate immunity

  • Physical barriers
  • Chemical barriers
  • Cellular defences
• Types of antibodies

  • IgG
  • IgA
  • IgM
  • IgE
  • IgD