Lymphatic system notes | Prepared by Mr. T.
Simfukwe
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
Lymphatic system is an additional transport system besides the blood transport in the body. It is a special
system of vessels connected to the tissues to transport excess tissue fluid back to the blood after exchange
of substances between cells and tissue fluid.
The lymphatic system is a system of tiny, thin walled vessels called lymphatic vessels.
THE HUMAN LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
COMPONENTS OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
i. Lymph
ii. Vessels that transport the lymph
iii. Organs that contain lymphatic tissue.
i. Lymph
This is a clear fluid similar to blood except that it lacks red blood cells and contains fewer proteins.
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Lymphatic system notes | Prepared by Mr. T. Simfukwe
It travels in the tissues through the lymphatic system in the lymphatic vessels.
It drains back to the blood at the vena cava through the subclavian vein.
It contains white blood cells called lymphocytes.
ii. Lymphatic vessels
Lymphatic vessels carry fluid away from the tissues.
The smallest lymphatic vessels are the lymph capillaries, which begin in the tissue spaces as blind-ended
sacs.
Lymph capillaries are found in all regions of the body except in the following parts:
Bone marrow Central nervous system Tissues such e.g. epidermis, that lack blood vessels.
PROPERTIES OF LYMPHATIC VESSELS
i. The wall of the lymph capillary is composed of endothelium.
ii. They have valves that allow fluid to enter the capillary but prevent lymph from leaving the vessel.
iii. They are numerous and pass between cells in the body tissues.
iv. The small lymphatic vessels join up into larger lymphatic vessels.
v. The lymph vessels have valves which also ensure lymph moves in one direction.
vi. Many lymph vessels are found in muscle tissue
vii. There is no pump in the lymphatic system like the heart
viii. The pressure to move lymph through the vessels comes from the action of surrounding body
muscles, breathing movement, and contraction of smooth muscle on the walls of the vessels.
iii. Lymphatic organs
The lymphatic organs are involved in providing immunity to the body against diseases. They include:
1. The lymph nodes
2. The tonsils
3. The spleen
4. The thymus
1. Lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are small bean-shaped structures that are usually less than 2.5 cm in length.
They are widely distributed throughout the body along the lymphatic vessels.
Their role is to filter the lymph before it is returned to the blood.
Lymph nodes are not present the central nervous system.
The typical lymph node has dense masses of lymphocytes and macrophages.
2. Tonsils
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Lymphatic system notes | Prepared by Mr. T. Simfukwe
Tonsils are clusters of lymphatic tissue just under the mucous membranes at line the nose, mouth,
and throat (pharynx).
Lymphocytes and macrophages in the tonsils provide protection against harmful substances and
pathogens that may enter the body through the nose or mouth.
3. Spleen
The spleen is located in the upper left abdominal cavity just beneath the diaphragm, and posterior to
the stomach.
It is similar to a lymph node in shape and structure but it is much larger.
The spleen is the largest lymphatic organ in the body.
The lymphatic tissue consists mainly of lymphocytes and macrophages.
Blood enters the spleen through the splenic artery, moves through the sinuses where it is filtered, then
leaves through the splenic vein.
The spleen filters blood in a similar way the lymph nodes filter lymph.
Lymphocytes in the spleen react to pathogens in the blood and attempt to destroy them.
Macrophages then engulf the resulting debris, the damaged cells, and the other large particles.
The spleen, along with the liver removes old and damaged red blood cells from the circulating blood.
The cavities in the spleen are a reservoir for storage of blood.
The stored blood is released when body loses excess blood due to bleeding.
4. Thymus
The thymus is a soft organ with two lobes that is located just below the sternum on the chest region.
It is large in children but after puberty it begins to decrease in size so that in adults it is quite small.
Functions of the thymus
i. Formation and maturation of special lymphocytes called T-lymphocytes or T-cells.
ii. These cells stimulate production of antibodies to fight diseases.
iii. They are the cells that are often attacked by the HIV virus.
iv. After the lymphocytes have matured, they enter the blood and go to other lymphatic organs where
they help provide defense against disease.
v. The thymus also produces a hormone called Thymosin, which stimulates the maturation of
lymphocytes in other lymphatic organs.
PLASMA, TISSUE FLUID AND LYMPH
When plasma leaves the capillaries and enters into spaces between tissues it is now called tissue fluid or
interstitial fluid.
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Lymphatic system notes | Prepared by Mr. T. Simfukwe
The tissue fluid in the tissues allows exchange of substances in the cells.
As it accumulates, it is picked up and removed from the tissues by tiny vessels called lymphatic
capillaries.
As soon as the tissue fluid enters the lymph capillaries, it is called lymph.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLASMA, TISSUE FLUID AND LYMPH
PLASMA TISSUE FLUID LYMPH
Liquid part of blood Fluid formed in the tissues when Part of the tissue fluid that enters
blood plasma leaves blood the lymphatic vessels after
capillaries due to ultrafiltration. exchange of substances in the
cell spaces.
It has red or white blood cells It has white blood cell called
and platelets lymphocytes.
Found inside blood. Found in between tissues. Found in the lymphatic vessels.
Contains dissolved food
substances.
FORMATION OF LYMPH
Lymph is formed by a process known as ultrafiltration which occurs in the capillaries.
Due to high pressure in the blood capillaries, materials are squeezed out. Tiny substances in blood is
forced out except blood cells and proteins which are relatively large.
The fluid that comes out and surround the tissues is known as tissue fluid or intracellular fluid.
Tissue fluid supplies nutrients, oxygen and other useful substances like hormones.
Some of the tissue fluid enters the venules by diffusion and is drained into the veins.
The rest of the tissue fluid enters the lymph vessels and is then called lymph.
IMPORTANCE OF LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
1. Lymph nodes help in defense against diseases in the following ways:
Trapping bacteria by the fine network of fibres.
Produce antibodies and lymphocytes which fights pathogens.
2. Transports excess tissue fluid back to the blood.
Differences between the lymphatic system and the blood circulatory system.
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Lymphatic system notes | Prepared by Mr. T. Simfukwe
1. Lymphatic system involves only one circuit where tissue fluid flows from intracellular spaces into
lymphatic vessels while blood circulatory system involves complete circulation of blood from heart to
all body organs of the body and back to the heart.
2. In the lymphatic system the tissue fluid flows in one direction only while in blood circulatory system
blood flows in two directions to the organs through arteries and out of the organs through the veins.
3. The lymphatic system has no pumping mechanism as it is not connected to the heart. It relies on
pressure
created by connecting muscles surrounding the lymph vessels while the circulatory system the heart
has to provide the pumping mechanism.
4. Lymphatic system involves transport of substances in lymph that is slightly yellow in colour while
circulatory system involves blood that is red in colour.
Lymphatic system uses lymphatic vessels while circulatory system uses blood vessels.
5. The lymph in lymphatic system lacks red blood cells and plasma proteins while circulatory system has
red blood cells and plasma proteins.
6. Lymphatic system mostly involved in defence mechanism against pathogens while circulatory system
involved in transport of substances in all tissues of the body.