Lymphoid Organs: Overview (Nursing)

00:01 Our lymphoid organs are grouped into two functional groups as well.

00:07 We have the primary lymphoid organs, which are going to be areas where our T and our B cells are going to mature.

00:14 These include the red bone marrow, which is found in our flat bones and in the epiphysis of our long bones, and then the thymus.

00:26 The T and B cells originate in the bone marrow, however, only B cells are going to mature there.

00:33 T cells mature in the thymus.

00:38 The secondary lymphoid organs are going to be areas where our mature lymphocytes are going to first encounter their antigen and become activated.

00:48 This is going to be in places like the nodes, the spleen, the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue or MALT, and also in that diffuse lymphoid tissue found throughout the body.

01:03 So let's take a closer look at each of the lymphoid organs.

01:07 So of the lymphoid organs, we have the spleen, the lymph nodes, and the thymus.

01:15 Also, we have the tonsils, the Peyre's patch, and the appendix.

01:21 It's important to note that while we are calling the tonsils, Peyre's patch; and appendix "organs" they are not actually considered organs and instead are considered lymphoid follicles.

01:33 Of these, the thymus is going to be a primary lymphoid organ, while the tonsils, spleen, peyre's patch, appendix, and lymph nodes are considered secondary.