Immune System Organs

Immune Organs

Primary Immune Organs

• Bone Marrow: responsible for producing immune cells, including B cells and T cells
• Thymus: responsible for maturing T cells

Secondary Immune Organs

• Spleen: filters blood and removes pathogens; stores immune cells
• Lymph Nodes: filters lymph fluid and traps pathogens; activates immune response
• Peyer's Patches: small, flat lymphoid organs in the small intestine; monitors the gut for pathogens
• Tonsils: masses of lymphoid tissue in the throat; helps to filter out pathogens from the air we breathe
• Appendix: a small, tube-like structure attached to the large intestine; contains immune cells and helps to activate the immune response
• Lymphoid Tissues:
  • Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT): immune cells in mucous membranes
  • Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT): immune cells in the gut
  • Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (BALT): immune cells in the lungs

Functions of Immune Organs

• Immune Cell Development: primary immune organs produce and mature immune cells
• Pathogen Detection: secondary immune organs detect and respond to pathogens
• Immune Response Activation: immune organs activate the immune response to eliminate pathogens
• Immune Cell Activation: immune organs activate immune cells to fight infection

Immune Organs

Primary Immune Organs

• Bone Marrow produces immune cells, including B cells and T cells
• Thymus matures T cells

Secondary Immune Organs

• Spleen filters blood, removes pathogens, and stores immune cells
• Lymph Nodes filter lymph fluid, trap pathogens, and activate immune response
• Peyer's Patches monitor the gut for pathogens in the small intestine
• Tonsils filter out pathogens from the air we breathe in the throat
• Appendix contains immune cells and helps activate the immune response in the large intestine
• Lymphoid Tissues include:
  • Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) with immune cells in mucous membranes
  • Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (GALT) with immune cells in the gut
  • Bronchus-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (BALT) with immune cells in the lungs

Functions of Immune Organs

• Immune organs produce and mature immune cells
• Immune organs detect and respond to pathogens
• Immune organs activate the immune response to eliminate pathogens
• Immune organs activate immune cells to fight infection

Learn about the primary and secondary immune organs in the human body, including their functions and roles in the immune system.