Final answer:
The red pulp of the spleen filters blood and removes damaged red blood cells, while the white pulp is involved in the immune response, with lymphocytes that remove antigen-coated bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The red versus white pulp in the spleen have distinct functions. The white pulp is involved in the immune response and is rich in lymphocytes that remove antigen-coated bacteria from the blood. This is reminiscent of the lymphoid follicles of the lymph nodes, delineated by a central arteriole and involving germinal centers of B cells surrounded by T cells and accessory cells like macrophages and dendritic cells. On the other hand, the red pulp primarily filters blood and removes damaged red blood cells, making room for new ones. It consists of reticular fibers with macrophages that clean the blood of pathogens and damaged cells, performing a relatively nonspecific immune response.