Lymphatic System

Unit-IX
Shabnam
Faculty of Nursing
Khyber Medical University, Peshawar
 Objectives
1. Define lymph & the lymphatic system
2. Identify the organs of lymphatic system
3. Describe the general functions of the lymphatic system
4. Describe how lymph is formed
5. Describe the lymph vessels & how lymph is returned to
the blood vessels
6. Describe the structure and functions of the lymph
nodes, nodules, spleen and the thymus glands.
 IMPORTANT TERMS

• Lymph - a fluid that contains white blood cells that defend

against germs
• Lymph vessels - vessels that carry lymph throughout your
body. They are different from blood vessels.
• Lymph nodes - glands found throughout the lymph vessels.
Along with your spleen, these nodes are where white blood
cells fight infection.
 INTRODUCTION

• All body tissues are bathed in tissue fluid, consisting of

the diffusible constituent of blood & waste material from
cell. Some tissue fluid returns to capillaries at their
venous end the reminder defuses through the more
permeable wall of the lymph capillaries, forming lymph.

• Cardiovascular & lymphatic system both are supply fluid

flow in to the body. but both are deferent type of fluid..
• Lymphatic system does not having closed circuit &
central pump like heart.
 LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

• Return tissue fluid to the bloodstream.

• It absorbs and transports fat and fat soluble vitamins
from the intestine..
• Kill the micro-organism
 LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
Consists of:
- Lymph
- Network of vessels
- Lymph nodes and nodules
- Tonsils
- Spleen
- Thymus gland
- Bone marrow
 Lymph (lymph = clear fluid)
• After blood travels through capillary beds and is
moved to the venous system, some of its fluid is left
behind in the tissues it called lymph. Lymph is a clear,
colorless liquid with a composition similar to blood
plasma.
• It is nothing but the clear, watery blood plasma
leaked out through the capillary walls to flow around
the cells.
• It contains oxygen, proteins, glucose and white blood
cells.
 Lymph?
• All the cells bathed in this fluid receive their
nutrients and oxygen from it.
• Tubular vessels transport lymph back to the blood,
ultimately replacing the volume lost during the
formation of the interstitial fluid.
• Lymph movement occurs despite low pressure due
to peristalsis, valves, and compression during
contraction of adjacent skeletal muscle and arterial
pulsation
 LYMPH CAPILLARIES

• Microscopic closed-ended vessels

• Located next to blood capillaries in tissue spaces
• Larger diameter than blood capillaries
• Are very permeable and collect tissue fluid and
proteins
• Lymph capillaries merge to form larger lymph
vessels
 LYMPH VESSELS
• Resemble veins but have thinner walls and more valves.
- Act as one-way valves allowing interstitial fluid to flow in but
not out
• Attached to surrounding tissue by anchoring filaments
 LYMPH VESSELS
• No pump for lymph
Lymph is kept moving by:
- Constriction of vessels
- Skeletal muscle pump
- Respiratory pump
• At intervals along vessels lymph flows into lymph nodes
• Lymphatic vessels unite to form lymph trunks
 LYMPH TRUNKS

• formed by lymphatic vessels uniting

• large tubes
• Empty their lymph into lymphatic ducts
Lymph empties into two conducting ducts:
- the thoracic duct (left lymphatic duct)
- the right lymphatic duct
Lymph from these ducts enters the blood stream via the left
subclavian vein and the right subclavian vein
 Lymphatic ducts
Lymphatic ducts are the largest lymphatic vessels.
These two ducts drain lymph into veins in the neck (the
right and left subclavian veins at their junctures with
the internal jugular veins). Valves in the lymphatic
ducts at their junctions with the veins prevent the
entrance of blood into the lymphatic
 LEFT THORACIC DUCT
The left thoracic duct collects lymph from the left side
of the body and regions of the right side of the body
below the thorax. It ultimately drains lymph into the
left subclavian vein. It begins at the cisterna chili, an
enlarged region of the lymphatic vessel that forms
following the union of the intestinal trunk and right and
left lumbar trunks.
 RIGHT THORACIC DUCT
The right thoracic duct collects lymph from the upper
right side of the body (right arm and right regions of
thorax, neck, and head), a much smaller area than that
serviced by the thoracic duct. It ultimately drains lymph
into the right subclavian vein.
 CISTERNA CHYLI
• large lymph vessel
• formed by the union of lymph vessels from lower body
• located anterior to the second lumbar vertebra
• continues superiorly as thoracic duct
 LYMPH NODES
• oval or bean-shaped
• Masses of lymphatic tissue
• Aid in defense and white blood cell formation
• located along length of lymphatic vessels
• Scattered throughout the body usually in clusters
 LYMPH NODES

• covered by a capsule
• contain capsular extensions called trabeculae (form partitions
within node)
• internal to capsule are reticular fibers and fibroblasts
- form framework of a lymph node
Two main regions of a lymph node:
- cortex
- medulla
 CORTEX

• outer region directly beneath the capsule

• contains densely packed lymphocytes arranged in
masses called follicles
- outer rim of follicle contains T cells, macrophages,
and follicular dendritic cells (aid in T cell activation)
 MEDULLA
• inner region
• lymphocytes are arranged in strands called medullary
cords
- contain macrophages and plasma cells
 BIOLOGICAL FILTRATION
As lymph passes through a node bacteria and other foreign
materials are trapped by reticular fibers within the node.

• Bacteria are then phagocytized by macrophages

• Plasma cells produce antibodies to antigens in the
lymph
• Antibodies, lymphocytes, and monocytes are eventually
returned to the blood via subclavian veins
 Regional Lymph Nodes
• CERVICAL-
--located in neck area
--filter lymph from head and neck
• AXILLARY
--located in armpits
--filter lymph from hand, arm, breast
• INGUINAL
--located in groin area
--filter lymph from lower extremities and external genital
organs
 MAJOR LYMPH NODES
• cervical
• axillary
• inguinal
• mesenteric
 MESENTERIC
• located in abdominal peritoneum
• aid in infection control after abdominal surgery
• filter lymph from abdominal cavity
 DIFFUSE LYMPHATIC TISSUE
• not enclosed by a capsule
• consists of reticular connective tissue that contains
lymphatic nodules
• Found in:
- small amounts in almost every organ, especially
mucous membranes that line tracts of body
 ISOLATED LYMPHATIC NODULES

• oval-shaped concentrations of lymphatic tissue

• most are solitary, small, and discrete
• Scattered in lamina propria of mucous
membranes of:
- gastrointestinal tract
- respiratory airways
- urinary and reproductive tract
 ISOLATED LYMPHATIC NODULES (cont.)

• When activated by antigens they differentiate into

plasma cells and produce antibodies against specific
antigens
• Plasma cells secrete IgA antibodies
- provide protection against bacterial and viral
infections in lumen of tracts
 ISOLATED LYMPHATIC NODULES (cont.)

• located in mucus membranes of gastrointestinal tract

• Examples:
- tonsils
- ileum of small intestine (Peyer’s patches)
- appendix
 TONSILS
• Aggregations of large lymphatic nodules
• Embedded in mucous membrane
• Located beneath epithelium of pharynx and oral
cavities
• Protect nasal and oral cavities
• Three types:
- Nasopharyngeal tonsils
- Palatine tonsils
- Lingual tonsils
 TONSILS
▪ NASOPHARYNGEAL TONSILS
Commonly called adenoids
Located:
- Behind nose
- On roof of posterior wall of pharynx
- Posterior opening of nasalcavity

▪ PALATINE TONSILS
Usually referred to as the “tonsils”
Location:
- Back of mouth
- Lateral walls of pharynx
--Most commonly removed - tonsillectomy
 LINGUAL TONSILS

• Base of tongue
• First line of defense from exterior
 SPLEEN
• Largest lymphatic organ
• Located in upper left abdominal quadrant
• Between fundus of stomach and diaphragm
• 5-6 inches long, 2-3 inches wide
• Resembles a large lymph node
• Filters blood
 STRUCTURE OF SPLEEN
• Capsule
- covering of dense connective tissue
• Hilum
- depression on medial surface
-nerves and arteries enter spleen, veins and lymphatic vessel exit
• Trabeculae
-extensions of capsule, form partitions within the spleen
• Pulp
- tissue inside
- divided into red and white
 WHITE PULP
- Consists of lymphatictissue
- Mostly lymphocytes arranged around central arteries

RED PULP
Consists of:
- venous sinuses filled with blood
- cords of splenic tissue
consists of red blood cells, macrophages,
lymphocytes, plasma cells, and granulocytes
 FUNCTIONS OF SPLEEN
• Phagocytosis of bacteria and worn out or damaged red blood
cells and platelets
• Stores and releases blood in times of demand, e.g.,
hemorrhage
• Functions in immunity as a site of B cell proliferation into
plasma cells
• Does not filter lymph because it has no afferent lymphatic
vessels or lymph sinuses
 THYMUS GLAND

• Two-lobed organ
• located in upper part of chest along trachea
• inferior to thyroid gland, posterior to sternum
• largest and most active during prenatal period and
infancy
• after puberty it decreases in size
 THYMUS GLAND

• Composed of lymphatictissue
• subdivided into lobules
• immature T cells originating in the bone marrow migrate to
thymus via blood
• in thymus, cells develop into mature T cells for release into
circulation
• thymic hormones aid in maturation of T cells
 (cont.)
THYMUS GLAND
• Mature T cells travel to lymph nodes, spleen, and
diffuse lymphatic tissues where they reside
• Responsible for cell-mediated immune responses
 REMOVAL OF THYMUS
(THYMECTOMY)
• can be removed but decreased T-cell production results
• possible acute susceptibility to infection
 REMOVAL OF SPLEEN
(SPLENECTOMY)
• Can be removed
• Other organs, e.g. the liver and bone marrow can
compensate for it
• Increased susceptibility to disease may result
 DISORDERS OF LYMPHATIC
SYSTEM
• The lymphatic system may not carry out its function
adequately due to
• Blockage (obstruction): Obstruction in the lymphatic
system leads to an accumulation of fluid ( lymphedema).
Obstruction may result from scar tissue that develops when
the lymph vessels or nodes are damaged or removed during
surgery, by radiation therapy, by injury, or in tropical countries,
by infection with a threadworm (filariasis) that blocks the
lymphatic ducts.
 Cont...

Nodes are inflamed. Sometimes the lymph nodes themselves

may become infected(lymphadenitis) by organisms that spread
through the lymphatic system from the original site of
infection.

• Infection: Infection may cause lymph nodes swollen.

Granulomatous lymphadenitis
 Cont.…
• Cancer: Tumors may block the lymphatic ducts or
may travel (metastasize) to lymph nodes near a tumor,
interfering with flow of lymphatic fluid through the
node. Rarely, a tumor (lymphangiosarcoma) may
develop in the lymphatic system.
THANK YOU