Lymphatic system - Elizabeth Bauer Consults

Lymphatic
System

Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is a complex
network of connective tissue that is
composed of:
• Lymphoid organs
•Lymph nodes
• Lymph ducts
• Lymph vessels
• Lymph capillaries

Lymphatic System
The accessory lymphoid tissue of
the lymphoid organ system are:
•Thymus
• Spleen
•Lymph nodes
• Peyer’s patches
• Adenoids
• Tonsils
• Vermiform appendix
•Red bone marrow

Lymphatic System

The most important functions of the
lymphatic system are:
• Maintenance of fluid balance in the
internal environment
– Collects and returns interstitial fluid,
including plasma protein to the blood to
help maintain fluid balance
• Immunity
Lymphatic System
– To defend the body against disease by
producing lymphocytes
• To absorb lipids from the intestine

The lymphatic system transports a
watery clear fluid called lymph fluid
• Distributes immune cells and other
factors throughout the body
• Interacts with the blood circulatory
system to drain fluid from cells and
tissues
Lymphatic System

Lymphatic Vessels

Lymphatic System
From one-third to two-thirds of the plasma
entering a capillary passes into the tissue
space.
The cells in the tissue space are bathed in
this interstitial or extracellular fluid (ECF)
that has been filtered from the blood. In the
tissue space is where cells acquire all their
needs and deposit all their products.
Although most of this interstitial fluid returns
to the venule end of the capillary, some does
not.

Lymphatic System
The small amount of interstitial fluid that
remains is picked up by tiny vessels called
lymph capillaries.
The cells forming the walls of the lymph
capillaries are loosely fitted together making
the wall very porous.
Even the large serum proteins that filtered
through the capillary wall pass easily from
the tissue space into the interior of the
lymph capillary.
The lymph capillaries of the intestinal villi,
called lacteals, also pick up fat droplets.

Lymphatic System
The lymph capillaries drain into still larger
vessels that make up the lymphatic system.
The flow through the lymph vessels is slow.
Like blood in the veins, contraction of
skeletal muscles compresses the lymph
vessels and squeezes the lymph.
Like the return of blood in the veins, the
lymph can flow only in one direction
because of valves in the vessels.

Lymphatic System
All the lymph collected from the entire
• Left side of the body
• Digestive tract and
• Right side of the lower part of the body
The lymph then flows into a single major
vessel, the thoracic duct.

Lymphatic System
The thoracic duct empties about 100 ml
of lymph every hour into the left
subclavian vein.
The lymph in the right side of the head,
neck, and chest is collected by the right
lymph duct and empties into the right
subclavian vein.

Lymphatic System and Edema
The production of lymph is increased by
increased blood pressure in the capillaries
and/or a decreased concentration of plasma
proteins—such as occurs in prolonged
malnutrition.
The lymphatic system may be unable to
handle the increased volume of lymph, and it
may accumulate in the tissues and distend
them. This condition is known as edema.

Lymphatic System: Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes act as filters, with an internal
honeycomb of reticular connective tissue that
traps foreign particles.
• They are bean shaped
• From a few millimeters to about 1-2 cm in size
• Humans have approximately 500-600 lymph
nodes
When the body is fighting an infection,
lymphocytes multiply rapidly and produce a
characteristic swelling of the lymph nodes.

Lymphatic System: Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes contain cavities, called sinuses,
into which the lymph flows.
The walls of the sinuses are lined with
phagocytic cells, which engulf any foreign
particles like bacteria. Tests have
demonstrated that over 99% of the bacteria
carried into a node are screened out before the
lymph leaves the node on its return to the
blood.
This filtering mechanism is one of the most
important body defenses against infectious
disease. When combating a heavy infection, the
lymph nodes enlarge producing "swollen
glands."

Lymphatic System: Lymph Nodes
Several hundred lymph nodes are
scattered throughout the body
especially in the
•Groin
•Armpits
•Abdomen
•Neck

Lymphatic System: Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes manufacture
• Antibodies
•Lymphocytes
which then enter the blood at the
subclavian veins.

Lymph Node

Lymphatic System
Lymph movement occurs slowly with
low pressure due to peristalsis, valves,
and the milking action of skeletal
muscles.
Like veins, lymph travels through
vessels in one way only, due to
semilunar valves.

Lymphatic System
Lymphocytes
The lymphatic system contains
immune cells called lymphocytes.
• They protect the body against
antigens (viruses, bacteria, etc.)
that invade the body
• Lymphocytes collect and destroy
antigens and pathogens

Lymphatic System
Lymphocytes

Lymphatic System and Fat
Transport
The lymphatic system also absorbs fatty acids
and transports fat, as chyle to the circulatory
system.
Chyle is a milky fluid consisting of lymph and
emulsified fats or free fatty acids (FFAs).
• Formed in the small intestine during digestion
of ingested fatty foods
• Taken up by lymph vessels known as lacteals
• Passed to the bloodstream through the
thoracic duct
Lacteals are located in the lining of the GI tract.

The lacteals are
lymphatic capillaries
that absorbs dietary
fats in the villi of the
small intestine.
Lacteals

Lymphatic System and Chyle
Chyle is composed of fat globules that
give it a milky appearance
• Has a thin protein coating
• Is a micron or less in size—there are
about 25,000 microns to an inch
After a meal it takes two to three hours
for fat to be absorbed from the small
intestine and travel through ever larger
lymph channels.

Lymphatic System and Lymph
Lymph originates as blood plasma that leaks
from the capillaries becoming interstitial fluid
that fills the space between individual cells of
tissue.
• Plasma is forced out of the capillaries—
filtration
• Forced back in—absorption
Due to interactions of:
• Hydrostatic pressure—movement out of the
capillaries)
• Oncotic pressure—movement into the
capillaries

Lymphatic System and Fat
Transport
Because lymph carries lipids it also
carries lipid-soluble vitamins
absorbed from the gastrointestinal
(GI) tract.
Since there is no active pump in the
lymph system, there is no backpressure
produced. The lymphatic
vessels, like veins, have one-way
valves that prevent backflow.

Lymphatic function supports every
other system in the body including:
• The immune system
• Digestive system
• Detoxification
• Nervous system
Poor lymph health contributes to
many conditions from cellulite to
cancer.
Lymphatic System

Lymphatic System
Lymph is an alkaline fluid (pH > 7.0)
that is usually clear, transparent, and
colorless.
It flows in the lymphatic vessels and
bathes tissues and organs in its
protective covering.
There are no RBCs in lymph and it has
a lower protein content than blood.
Like blood, it is slightly heavier than
water.

Lymphatic System and the Blood
Blood constitutes about 7% of the
body's total weight.
Blood flows from the heart into
arteries, then to capillaries, and
returns to the heart through veins.
All blood cells are manufactured
by stem cells, which live mainly in
the bone marrow, by a process
called hematopoiesis.

Lymphatic System and the Blood
Stem cells produce hemocytoblasts that
differentiate into precursors for all the
different types of blood cells.
Hemocytoblasts mature into three types
of blood cells:
• Erythrocytes (red blood cells or RBCs)
• Leukocytes (white blood cells or
WBCs)
• Thrombocytes (platelets)

Lymphatic System and
Blood Cells

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