1. THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM AND IMMUNITY

2. WHAT IS IN THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM?  Components are: Lymph, vessels, lymph nodes, tonsils, the spleen, and the thymus gland  Jobs of this system include: Fluid Balance – restores interstitial fluid to the circulatory system  Fat Absorption – lacteals, which are lymphatic capillaries absorb fat from the small intestine  Defense- Pathogens are filtered from the lymph in nodes and can be destroyed by lymphocytes

3. EDEMA OF THE LEGS: Edema (swelling due to fluid retention) happens when excess fluid builds up around tissues

4. A lymph node is an oval organ surrounded by fibrous connective tissue that filters pathogens from the lymph fluid. It contains many immune cells

5. WHAT ARE TONSILS?  Large groups of lymphatic nodules and tissues  Keep pathogens from entering the pharynx  Inflamed or enlarged tonsils can be removed

6. WHAT DOES THE SPLEEN DO?  It is about the size of your fist  It destroys defective RBC’s  It responds to foreign (non-self) substances in the blood  Macrophages clean up debris  It also stores small amounts of blood

7. THE THYMUS GLAND?  Site of T cell maturation  Decreases in function throughout life  By age 50 – it is only 20% functional  By age 70 – it is mostly gone

8. HELP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM... Whack – A – Germ! http://primaryimmune.org/idf- arcade/whack_a_germ

9. VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh- XdNnTZUo&feature=related