Lymphatic System
Human Structure & Function-II | MEDI-103
Dr Hisham Alshaikhli
[Link].B, [Link], Ph.D, PGCertMedTech-NZ
Assistant Professor
College of Nursing – Qatar University
halshaikhli@[Link]
Office hours: Thursdays 12 pm-1 pm – Building I03 – Office 504
1
Learning Objectives
• Explain the role of the lymphatic system in CVS and in bodily
defense
• Describe the components of the Lymphatic system, structure and
function of each
• Lymphatics
• Lymphoid tissues and organs
• Lymph nodes
• Spleen
• Thymus
Mucosa-Associate Lymphoid Tissues (MALTs)
• Tonsils
• Peyer’s patches
• Appendix 2
The lymphatic system in CVS and in body defense
Structure and Functions of Lymphatic system overview
3
Lymph Vs Plasma
• Plasma: liquid portion of blood, without blood cells.
• Lymph (clear fluid) tissue
connective
• Accumulated tissue fluid in interstitial space carried by lymphatic
vessels to the blood
• Contains:
• Water, immune blood cells, Proteins,
• harmful materials, e.g. Bacteria, Viruses, Cancer cells, Cell debris
or
4
The Lymphatic System
Consists of two semi-independent
parts:
1. Lymphatic vessels
2. Lymphoid tissues and organs
Lymphatic system functions
Transports escaped fluids from the cardiovascular system
back to the blood
Plays essential roles in body defense and resistance to disease
5
Lymphatic Vessels
Lymph consists of excess tissue fluid and plasma proteins
carried by lymphatic vessels
If fluids are not picked up (H.F or R.F) , lymphedema occurs as
fluid accumulates in tissues.
Lymphatic vessels (lymphatics) pick up excess fluid (lymph) and
return it to the blood
Form a one-way system
Lymph flows only toward the heart
[Link] Ssficien stia
6
Lymph capillaries
Weave between tissue cells and blood capillaries
Walls overlap to form flaplike minivalves (Video)
Fluid leaks into lymph capillaries
Capillaries are anchored to connective tissue by filaments
Higher pressure on the inside closes minivalves
7
Fluid is forced along the vessel
Lymphatic Vessels
MIA
Lymphatic collecting vessels
o Collect lymph from lymph capillaries
o Carry lymph to and away from lymph nodes
o Return fluid to circulatory veins near the
heart
Right lymphatic duct drains the lymph from the right
arm and the right side of the head and thorax
Thoracic duct drains lymph from rest of body
picked
8
l
9
Lymphatic vessels are similar to veins of the cardiovascular system
Thin-walled
Larger vessels have valves
Low-pressure, pumpless system
Lymph transport is aided by:
Milking action of skeletal muscles
Pressure changes in the thorax during breathing
Smooth muscle in walls of lymphatics
10
Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes filter lymph before it is returned to the
blood
Harmful materials that are filtered by lymph node:
Bacteria
Viruses
Cancer cells
Cell debris
Defence cells within lymph nodes are mainly
Macrophages—engulf and destroy bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances
in lymph (originally from Monocyte)
Lymphocytes—There are two main types of lymphocytes: B cells and T cells. The B
cells produce antibodies that are used to attack invading bacteria, viruses, and
toxins. The T cells destroy the body's own cells that have themselves been taken
over by viruses or become cancerous. that
antibody fight
help
Bcellsproduce own
these b ody
oftavirus
cell'st hat
have taken
been
by
over ranginsorb ecomecancerous
cells destroy
11
Lymph Nodes
Most lymph nodes are kidney-shaped,
less than 1 inch long, and buried in
connective tissue
o Surrounded by a capsule
o Divided into compartments by trabeculae
Cortex (outer part)
o Contains follicles—collections of lymphocytes
o Germinal centers enlarge when antibodies
are released by plasma cells
Medulla (inner part)
o Contains phagocytic macrophages
12
Lymph Nodes
Flow of lymph through nodes
Lymph enters the convex side through afferent lymphatic vessels
Lymph flows through a number of sinuses inside the node
Lymph exits through efferent lymphatic vessels
Because there are fewer efferent than afferent vessels, flow is slowed 13
Primary Lymphoid Organs
Bone Marrow and Thymus
Bone Marrow
t
14
Thymus
• Location – behind the sternum in the mediastinum
• The capsule divides it into 2 lobes
• Development
• Large in infants & children
• Decreases in size through adulthood
• Function
• Produces Thymosin - stimulates the production and differentiation of T cells
• Site of differentiation and maturation of T cells 15
Secondary Lymphoid organs
Several other lymphoid organs contribute to
lymphatic function (in addition to the lymph nodes)
Spleen
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) Includes:
• Peyer’s patchesilium
• Tonsils
• Appendix
16
Spleen
• Large capsulated organ in the upper Lt part of the abdomen
• Anterolateral aspect of the stomach
• Functions enlargement
• Filters & stores blood, breaks down old RBC abnormal
• Forms blood in embryonic stage
• Filters and cleans blood of bacteria, viruses, debris - Splenomegaly
• Provides a site for lymphocyte proliferation and immune surveillance
• Nodules of white pulp scattered in red pulp
• Red Pulp
• Old RBC removal and recycling
• White pulp
• Has lymphocytes
• Sheath of lymphocyte surrounding an arteriole
17
Other Lymphoid Organs
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
Includes:
Peyer’s patches
Tonsils
Appendix
Acts as a sentinel to protect respiratory and digestive tracts
Mucosa-associated lymphoid
tissue (MALT)
Tonsils
• Multiple groups of large lymphatic nodules
• Location – mucous membrane of the oral and pharyngeal cavities
(throat)
• Palatine tonsils
• Posterior-lateral walls of the oropharynx
• Pharyngeal tonsil
• Posterior wall of nasopharynx
• Lingual tonsils
• Base of tongue
• Function
• Trap and remove bacteria or other foreign pathogens entering the throat.
• Infected tonsillitis (red swollen and sore),
19
Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
Appendix: Tubular projection at the Peyer’s Patches: Lymphoid
beginning of the large intestine aggregate (similar to tonsils) in
• Resemble tonsils in structure, the mucosa of the small intestine
Capture and destroy bacteria in the
20
intestine
Thank you
Dr Hisham Alshaikhli
[Link].B, [Link], Ph.D, PGCertMedTech-NZ
Assistant Professor
College of Nursing – Qatar University
halshaikhli@[Link]
Office hours: Thursdays 12 pm-1 pm
Building I03 – Office 504
Cathedral Cove, Coromandel - NZ 21