Table 1.

Distinguishing features of secondary lymphoid tissues

	Spleen	Lymph node
Antigen entry	Via bloodstream	Via lymphatics draining interstitial spaces of peripheral tissues
Site of antigen   entrapment	Marginal zone	Subcapsular sinus
Antigen passage  route	Marginal sinus–FRC network– PALS/B-cell follicles	Subcapsular sinus–FRC network–paracortex/cortex
T-cell area	PALS	Paracortex
B-cell area	B-cell follicles	Cortex
Lymphocyte traffic	Marginal zone–FRC network–PALS/B-cell follicles–venous sinuses	HEV–FRC/FDC nerwork–paracortex/cortex– efferent lymphatics
Unique cell   populations	Marginal zone metallophilic macrophages, marginal zone B cells, B1 B cells	Subcapsular sinus macrophages, LN stromal cells