Explain How The Lymphatic System Supports Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the way that a system functions to control and maintain the body’s physiological systems. This system consists of:

A. Compare and contrast afferent and efferent lymphatic vessels. Describe in one way in which they are similar and one way they are different.

understood that the pathogens adapted to the immune system and were immune to its defenses so

exists within the body (Neligan, 2006). When a pathogen is present in the bloodstream or

The lymphatic system is very similar, and works with and directly at the side of the cardiovascular system. The lymphatic system has a network of vessels like the circulatory system which pump a plasma-like fluid called lymph around it’s own lymph vessels, and are found in most other tissues of the body, except the central nervous system.

Human beings are born with immunity as well as they acquire it from the environment they grow in. Human innate immunity is assigned the task to hinder the harmful substances from entering the body. These immunity barriers develop a defense line. The innate immunity includes cough, tear enzymes, mucus, skin and the stomach acid. Hence, the role of innate immune system is to stop harmful materials from entering our body. In case the innate immunity is insufficient to fight, there is acquired immunity that fights harmful substances by getting exposed to various antigens. The acquired immunity is developed against specific antigen. Its role is to fight

The organs that make up the lymphatic and immune system are the tonsils, spleen, thymus gland, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels. White blood cells (leukocytes), red blood cells (erythrocytes), plasma, and platelets (thrombocytes) make up the blood. Lymphocytes are leukocytes (white blood cells) that help the body fight off diseases. Two types of lymphocytes are B cells and T cells. Lymphocytes recognize antigens, or foreign substances/matter, in the body. Lymphocytes are a classification of agranulocytes, or cells (-cytes) without (a-) granules (granul/o) in the cytoplasm. B cells are created from stem cells, which are located in the bone marrow. B cells respond to antigens by becoming plasma cells. These plasma cells then create antibodies. Memory B cells produce a stronger response with the next exposure to the antigen. B cells fight off infection and bacteria while T cells defend against viruses and cancer cells. A hormone created by the thymus gland called thymosin changes lymphocytes into T cells. The thymus gland is active when you are a child and slowly shrinks, as you get older. T cells bind to the antigens on the cells and directly attack them. T cells secrete lymphokines that increase T cell production and directly kill cells with antigens. There are three types of T cells: cytotoxic T cells, helper T cells, and memory T cells.

in the airways and prevent blood vessels from leaking fluid into the airway tissues. By reducing

This fluid is expelled from the body's capillaries and gathers either under the skin or in the body's internal organs.

Sometimes, there can be a fault in someone’s lymphatic system. This can result in diseases such as lymphedema, lymphoma and autoimmune system. When the lymphatic system stops working efficiently, the possibility of getting an infection or a disease increases. In addition, the drainage of excess fluid from the tissue does not work as

• Help get rid of shortness of breath, discomfort, or pain caused by the extra fluid.

The lymphatic and immune system are made up of, Lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, spleen, thymus gland and tonsils. They pick up excess tissue fluid, cleanse it and return it to the circulatory system. The component that comprise blood are plasma, erythrocytes, leukocyte and platelets. The way they work is, blood transports gases, nutrient and waste to all areas of the body either attached to erythrohemocys or dissolved in the plasma white blood cells fight infection and disease that can hurt the body. The platelets help stop the blood by clotting the cut so you don’t bleed out and die.

Humoral immunity is characterized by secretion of proteins called antibodies, which immobilize and block the ability of pathogen to infect the host cells in additon of promoting the ingestion by phagocytes. Antibodies are secreted by B-lymphocytes, which are derived from bone marrow and on activation of antigen differentiate into plasma cells known for their ability of antibody secretion. Humoral immunity is defense mechanisam used against extracellular microbes and toxins, since antibodies can bind to them and assist in their elimination. Antibodies are specific for antigens found on microbes and, as previously said, recognize fine differences between the

If a pathogen breaches barriers: innate immune response result into an immediate effect of non- specific response. All Innate immune systems derived from plants and animals, when a pathogen evades the innate response, a third layer of protection is possessed by vertebrates in which activation of adaptive immune system takes place. The immune system response adopts itself within an infection and pathogen recognition is improved. As a result of the improved response, its then retains itself when the pathogen is eliminated in form of an immunological memory and allows the adaptive immune system to mount faster and stronger when pathogen is encountered each time.

For the immune system to able to keep us healthy it needs to be able to recognise what is a danger to our body and therefore needs to be removed, and what is safe. Proteins are used to do this. Pathogens have proteins on their surface called antigens, which activate the immune system. Our own cells also have surface proteins which the immune system recognises as part of the body and therefore doesn’t attack. (1)