Lymph node: filter and immune station
Local vessels and regional nodes · Many in, one out
Several afferent vessels pierce the capsule and empty into the subcapsular sinus while a single efferent leaves at the hilum, and the mismatch slows flow so macrophages and lymphocytes can strip antigen and trapped tumour cells from the lymph.
Traced from the start
- Lymphatic capillaries (initial lymphatics)
- Lymph node: filter and immune station
Detail
- Afferents
- Many, entering through the convex surface
- Efferent
- Usually one, leaving at the hilum
- Cortex
- B-cell follicles with germinal centres
- Paracortex
- T cells and high endothelial venules for lymphocyte recirculation
- Medulla
- Medullary cords of plasma cells and sinus macrophages
When it goes wrong
Reactive hyperplasia in infection
Tender, mobile, rubbery node that regresses
Metastatic carcinoma replacing nodal architecture
Hard, painless node, fixed or matted to surrounding tissue
Practise this structure
No question in the bank is tagged to Lymph node: filter and immune station yet. Questions appear here automatically once one is — the question bank is free to browse in the meantime.