Reticuloendothelial System
Also written as RES.
Production – Bilirubin is formed from the breakdown of heme (mainly from aged red blood cells) in the reticuloendothelial system.
What our notes say
- Production – Bilirubin is formed from the breakdown of heme (mainly from aged red blood cells) in the reticuloendothelial system. (CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY LAQs & SAQs)
- RBCs are broken down in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow (Reticuloendothelial System - RES). (Liver Function Tests (LFTs))
- Viremia: Virus spreads via bloodstream to reticuloendothelial system — liver, spleen, lymph nodes (Medical Microbiology III Exam: Viruses, Fungi & Diagnosis)
- Spread via lymphatics and bloodstream throughout reticuloendothelial system (Medical Microbiology III Exam: Viruses, Fungi & Diagnosis)
- Infected macrophages carry yeast cells to hilar lymph nodes and the reticuloendothelial system (liver, spleen). (Medical Mycology Q&A Section C)
- Primary Viremia: Virus enters the bloodstream and seeds the reticuloendothelial system (lymph nodes, spleen, liver) where amplification occurs (Medical Mycology Q&A Section B)
Study material on Reticuloendothelial System
Practice questions on Reticuloendothelial System
In the context of the reticuloendothelial system, what is a key histological feature of reactive lymphadenopathy?
- Sheets of plasma cells
- Starry-sky appearance
- Follicular hyperplasia with preserved architecture
- Sinusoidal infiltration by atypical lymphocytes
Answer: C. Benign reactive nodes show expanded germinal centres but retain overall nodal architecture, unlike malignant infiltration which effaces it. ---