Gut-associated lymphoid tissue

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The digestive tract's immune system is often referred to as gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and works to protect the body from invasion. GALT is an example of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.

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About 70% of the body's immune system is found in the digestive tract. The GALT is made up of several types of lymphoid tissue that produce and store immune cells that carry out attacks and defend against pathogens.

New research indicates that GALT may continue to be a major site of HIV activity, even if drug treatment has reduced HIV count in the peripheral blood.[citation needed]

Lymphoid tissue in the gut is comprised of the following :

Lymphatics of colon.

Section of the human esophagus.

Transverse section of human vermiform process. X 20.

Section of mucous membrane of human rectum. X 60.

v • d • e
Anatomy of torso, digestive system: Gastrointestinal tract
Upper GI: to stomach Mouth • Pharynx (nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx) • Esophagus • Crop
Upper GI: stomach rugae - gastric pits - cardia/gland - fundus/gland - pylorus/gland - pyloric antrum - pyloric canal - greater curvature - lesser curvature - angular incisure
Lower GI: intestines Small intestine: Duodenum (Suspensory muscle, Major duodenal papilla, Minor duodenal papilla) • Duodenojejunal flexure • Jejunum • Ileum • continuous (intestinal villus, crypts of Lieberkühn, circular folds)

Junction: Vermiform appendix • Ileocecal valve

Large intestine: Cecum • Colon (ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon) • continuous (taenia coli, haustra, epiploic appendix)
Lower GI: termination Rectum: Houston valve • rectal ampulla • pectinate line

Anal canal: anal valves • anal sinuses • anal columns • Hilton's white line

Anus: Sphincter ani internus muscle • Sphincter ani externus muscle
Lower GI: lymph GALT: Peyer's patches (M cells)
v • d • e
Immune system: Lymphatic system (Lymph, Lymphocytes)
Primary Bone marrow - Thymus (Hassall's corpuscles)
Secondary: Spleen (blood) Hilum - Trabeculae - Red pulp (Cords of Billroth, Marginal zone) - White pulp (Periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths)
Secondary: Lymph nodes (extracellular fluid) Subcapsular sinus - Paracortex - Lymph vessels - High endothelial venules
Secondary: MALT (mucosa) GALT - Peyer's patches
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut-associated_lymphoid_tissue"
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