LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
LYMPH
What is lymph ?
Tissue fluid (interstitial
fluid) that enters the
lymphatic vessels
FORMATION AND TRANSPORT
OF TISSUE FLUID
LYMPHATIC SYSTE
Essentially a
drainage system
accessory to
venous system
larger particles that
escape into tissue fluid
can only be removed
via lymphatic system
Functions of the Lymphatic
System
24-
Reabsorbs excess interstitial fluid:
5
returns it to the venous circulation
maintain blood volume levels
prevent interstitial fluid levels from rising out of
control.
Transport dietary lipids:
transported through lacteals
drain into larger lymphatic vessels
eventually into the bloodstream.
lymphocyte development, and the
immune response.
Components of the Lymphatic
24-
System
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Lymph
Lymphatic Vessels
Lymphatic Capillaries
Lymphatic Vessels
Lymphatic Trunks
Lymphatic Ducts
Lymphatic Organs
Thymus
Lymph Nodes
Spleen
Tonsils
Lymphatic cells
Lymph Vessels
Lymphatic capillaries –
Lymphatic collecting vessels
Lymphatic trunks –
Lymphatic ducts –
Lymphatic Capillaries
24-
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Features of structure:
Blind end
Single layer of overlapping
endothelial cells
More permeable than that of
blood capillary
Absent from avascular
structures, brain, spinal cord
splenic pulp and bone marrow
Lymphatic Capillaries – Lacteals
24- The small intestine contains
10
special types of lymphatic
capillaries called lacteals.
Lacteals pick up not only
interstitial fluid, but also dietary
lipids and lipid-soluble vitamins.
The lymph of this area has a milky
color due to the lipid and is also
called chyle.
Lymphatic Vessels
Features of
24-
structure
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Three layered
wall but thinner
than vein,
More numerous
valves than in
vein
Interposed by
lymph nodes at
intervals
Arranged in
LYMPH TRUNKS
right and left jugular
trunks
right and left subclavian
trunks
right and left
bronchomediastinal
trunks
LYMPHATIC DUCTS
24-
Right lymphatic duct
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Formed by union of
right jugular,
subclavian, and
bronchomediastinal
trunks
Ends by entering
the right venous
angle
LYMPHATIC
DUCTS
Thoracic duct
Begins in front of L1
as a dilated sac, the
cisterna chyli,
formed by left and
right lumbar trunks
and intestinal trunk
Enter thoracic cavity
& ascends
Travels upward,
veering to the left at
THORACIC DUCT…..
15
At the root of the
neck, it turns
laterally
arches forwards
and descends to
enter the left
venous angle
before termination,
it receives the left
jugular, Subclavian
and broncho-
DRAINAGE PATTERN
RIGHT LYMPHATIC
DUCT -Receives
lymph from right half
of head, neck, thorax
and right upper limb,
right lung, right side
ofTHORACIC
heart, rightDUCT -
surface
Drainsof liver from
lymph
lower limbs, pelvic
cavity, abdominal
cavity, left side of
thorax, and left side
Lymphatic Cells
24-
17 Also called lymphoid cells.
Located in both the lymphatic
system and the cardiovascular
system.
Work together to elicit an immune
response.
Types of lymphatic cells are:
macrophages
epithelial cells
dendritic cells
lymphocytes
LYMPHATIC ORGANS
Primary organs
Red bone marrow
Thymus gland
Secondary organs
Lymph nodes
Lymph nodules
Spleen
Lymph
24-
Nodes
Small, round or oval
19located along the
pathways of lymph
vessels.
length from 1 - 25
millimeters
Typically found in
clusters
receive lymph from
many body regions.
Lymph nodes are also
found individually
throughout the body
Lymph node
Features
Bean-shaped bodies
With afferent vessels
(entering at the
periphery) and efferent
lymph
vessels(emerging at
the hilus)
Arranged in groups,
along the blood
vessels or the flexural
side of the joint
Regional Lymph
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drainage
Regional Lymph Node is the
lymph node where the lymph of the
organ or part of the body drainge to
firstly
Sentinel Lymph Node(in clinic)
Spleen
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Location
Left epigastric region
between 9th-11th rib
in line of 10th rib
Largest lymphatic organ in
the body.
Can vary considerably in
size and weight
Function
THYMUS
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Features
Consists of two
elongated lobes
Is a large organ
in the fetus
Occupies the
thoracic cavity
behind the
sternum
Secrete
lymphopoietin
Lymphatic Nodules
24-
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Oval clusters of lymphatic cells with some
extracellular matrix that are not
surrounded by a connective tissue capsule.
Filter and attack antigens.
In some areas of the body, many lymphatic
nodules group together to form larger structures.
mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT) or
tonsils
very prominent in the mucosa of the small
intestine, primarily in the ileum
Peyer patches
also present in the appendix
Tonsils
clusters of lymphatic cells and
24-
extracellular matrix not completely
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surrounded by a connective tissue
capsule.
Consist of multiple germinal centers
and crypts
Several groups of tonsils form a
protective ring around the pharynx.
pharyngeal tonsils (or adenoids) in
nasopharynx
palatine tonsils in oral cavity
lingual tonsils along posterior one-
third of the tongue
MALT (Mucosa Associated
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Lymphoid Tissue)