Scheme of development of germinal centre in lymphatic nodule (human)

A. primary nodule (or follicle) with mainly nave B lymphocytes and some memory cells, but no germinal centre; B. proliferation of lymphoblasts by mitosis (3,-->) and development of capillaries (*) in the centre of the follicle; C. so-called secondary nodule with lighter stained germinal centre with reticular cells, macrophages; D. larger maturing B lymphocytes (or follicle centre cells); rows of small nave B lymphocytes are circularly arranged A. rest situation of germinal centre with reduction of lymphocytes; few reticular cells, macrophages and plasma cells are present 1. mantle zone ; 2. lymphoblast; 3. mitotic figure; 4. capillary; 5. circularly arranged naive B lymphocytes and few T lymphocytes in the mantle zone; 6. reticular cell; 7. macrophage with so-called 'tingible bodies' (phagocytosis); 8. plasma cell