In the lymph node, where are plasma cells predominantly located?

In the lymph node, where are plasma cells predominantly located?

• A. Plasma cells predominantly located in medullary cords.
• B. Plasma cells in cortex.
• C. Plasma cells in paracortex.
• D. Plasma cells in capsule.

Answer: (A)

Plasma cells are antibody-secreting descendants of B lymphocytes, and in the lymph node they predominantly localize in the medullary cords. After activated B cells proliferate in the cortex’s follicles and some differentiate in germinal centers, many mature into plasma cells and migrate toward the medulla. There they reside in the medullary cords, forming a network with reticular cells and macrophages, and they secrete antibodies into the lymph and blood. The cortex houses B-cell follicles and germinal centers, the paracortex is the T-cell zone, and the capsule is just connective tissue surrounding the node, so those areas are not the main sites of mature plasma cells.

Plasma cells are antibody-secreting descendants of B lymphocytes, and in the lymph node they predominantly localize in the medullary cords. After activated B cells proliferate in the cortex’s follicles and some differentiate in germinal centers, many mature into plasma cells and migrate toward the medulla. There they reside in the medullary cords, forming a network with reticular cells and macrophages, and they secrete antibodies into the lymph and blood. The cortex houses B-cell follicles and germinal centers, the paracortex is the T-cell zone, and the capsule is just connective tissue surrounding the node, so those areas are not the main sites of mature plasma cells.