The Lymphatic System

What is lymph?
Tissue fluid (interstitial fluid) that enters the lymphatic vessels

The lymphatic system may be the most underrated system of the

human body. It protects the body from invaders, maintains the
fluid level in the body, and absorbs dietary fat from the intestine.
It reabsorbs excess interstitial fluid:
 returns it to the venous circulation
 maintain blood volume levels
 prevent interstitial fluid levels from rising out of control.
Well, it all starts at a network of tiny blood vessels called the
capillary beds where nutrient and gas exchange occur. During this
process, around 10% of this fluid is lost and ends up in the
extracellular space, which is where the lymphatic system kicks in.
This fluid will be taken up first by;

lymphatic capillaries which are small, porous capillaries

throughout the body that form lymphatic plexuses.

Transport dietary lipids:

 transported through lacteals
 drain into larger lymphatic vessels
 eventually into the bloodstream.
lymphocyte development, and the immune response
 Blind end
lymphatic system is composed of lymph, lymphocytes, lymphatic  Single layer of overlapping
vessels and plexuses, lymph nodes and other lymphoid organs. endothelial cells
 More permeable than that
of blood capillary
 Absent from avascular structures,
brain, spinal cord splenic pulp and bone marrow

Lymphatic Capillaries – Lacteals

 The small intestine contains special types of
lymphatic capillaries called lacteals.
 Lacteals pick up not only interstitial fluid,
but also dietary lipids and lipid-soluble
Lymphoid organs are the part of the lymphatic system that are vitamins.
directly involved in the immune system because they produce  The lymph of this area has a milky color due
lymphocytes, as is the case with the thymus and bone marrow to the lipid and is also called chyle.
and house lymphocytes - and other white blood cells - that are
ready to respond to pathogens, as is the case with lymph nodes, - Once this fluid enters the lymphatic capillaries, it’s called lymph.
the spleen and tonsils. Now, the small lymphatic capillaries merge to form the next part
of the lymphatic system, called;
Lymph is a clear - or slightly yellow –
fluid that is transported through tubes Lymphatic Vessels.
similar to blood vessels, called lymphatic  Three layered walls but thinner than vein,
vessels.  More numerous valves than in vein
 Interposed by lymph nodes at intervals
 Arranged in superficial and deep sets
- Lymphatic vessels drain lymph through lymph nodes and
eventually into lymphatic trunks, which drain large regions of the
body - like the subclavian trunks that drain the upper limbs.
Finally,

Lymphatic Trunks converge to form two bigger channels.

 right and left jugular
trunks
Now, you may be wondering, where does this lymph come from?  right and left subclavian
trunks
 right and left
bronchomediastinal trunks
 right and left lumbar trunks
 intestinal trunk

Lymphatic Cells
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
called lymphatic ducts, specifically the right lymphatic duct and  dendritic cells
the thoracic duct  lymphocytes

Right lymphatic duct LYMPHATIC ORGANS

The right lymphatic duct collects the lymph from the Primary organs
right side of the head and neck, the right side of the chest, and  Red bone marrow
the right upper limb. This duct drains its lymph into the right  Thymus gland
venous angle, which is the meeting point of the right internal  Features; Consists of two elongated lobes Is a
jugular vein and the right subclavian vein. large organ in the fetus. Occupies the thoracic
cavity behind the sternum and secrete
lymphopoietin

The thymus is most active in the neonatal period and pre-

 Formed by union of right jugular, subclavian, and adolescent years, and then slowly atrophies and gets replaced by
bronchomediastinal trunks fat after puberty. The thymus is involved in the development of T
 Ends by entering the right venous angle cells - making sure that any T cells that react to self-antigens,
antigens that are normally found in the body, are promptly
Thoracic duct destroyed.
 Begins in front of L1 as a dilated sac, the cisterna chyli,
formed by left and right lumbar trunks and intestinal trunk Secondary organs
 Enter thoracic cavity & ascends  Lymph nodules
 Travels upward, veering to the left at the level of T5  Oval clusters of lymphatic cells with some
 At the root of the neck, it turns laterally arches forwards and extracellular matrix that are not surrounded by a
descends to enter the left venous angle before termination, connective tissue capsule.
it receives the left jugular, Subclavian and broncho-  Filter and attack antigens.
mediastinal trunk  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

 Spleen
DRAINAGE PATTERN  Location; Left epigastric region between 9th-11th rib in line
 RIGHT LYMPHATIC DUCT -Receives lymph of 10th rib
from right half of head, neck, thorax and  Largest lymphatic organ in the body.
right upper limb, right lung, right side of  Can vary considerably in size and weight
heart, right surface of liver
 THORACIC DUCT - Drains lymph from
lower limbs, pelvic cavity, abdominal
cavity, left side of thorax, and left side of
 streptococcus pyogenes (most common).
Lymph vessels appear as red streaks
through the skin

FILARIASIS
(a) Microfilaria from an infected
person enter the mosquito in
a blood meal
 Function; The spleen has both white pulp and red pulp. The (b) Microfilaria develop into
white pulp is where antibody-coated bacteria are filtered out infected larvae in the mosquito
of circulation and antibodies are generated by B cells. The and are injected into a new host
white pulp of the spleen is like a giant lymph node, the (c) Larvae mature into adult
spleen receives blood. The red pulp of the spleen is where worms and spread through the
old and defective blood cells are destroyed and their parts - lymphatic vessels, where they
the hemoglobin, the heme chain, and the iron. It is also a mate and lay eggs.
helpful in that it keeps a red blood cells and platelets
available in case they are suddenly needed by the body. LYMPHEDEMA
Lymph Nodes Occurs due to accumulation
 Small, round or oval located along the pathways of lymph of lymphatic fluid in the
vessels, length from 1 - 25 millimeters interstitial tissue. Sometimes
 Typically found in clusters receive lymph from many body can be appreciated after wearing
regions. tight clothing or jewellary on
 Lymph nodes are also found individually throughout the affected limb
body tissues.
LYMPHADENOPATHY
Means a disease of the lymph
nodes. Lymph nodes become
swollen/ enlarged and may be
painful to touch

LYMPHOMAS
Features Cancers originating either
Bean-shaped bodies with afferent vessels (entering at the from the lymphocytes in the
periphery) and efferent lymph vessels (emerging at the hilus). lymph nodes or the lymphatic
Arranged in groups, along the blood vessels or the flexural side of tissue in organs
the joint and divided into superficial and deep groups Risk factors -- HIV, HEPATITIS,
EBV infections

TONSILLITIS
Infection of the pharyngeal
tonsils. Tonsils are swollen,
fever and pain during swallowing
usually, present. Treatment –
Tonsils surgical removal of tonsils
 clusters of lymphatic cells and extracellular matrix not (TONSILLECTOMY)
completely surrounded by a connective tissue capsule.
 Consist of multiple germinal centers and crypts. Several SPLENOMEGALY
groups of tonsils form a protective ring around the pharynx. Enlarged Spleen
 pharyngeal tonsils (or adenoids) in nasopharynx, palatine Various causes
tonsils in oral cavity , lingual tonsils along posterior one-third
of the tongue

The tonsils, which include the adenoid, tubal tonsils, palatine

tonsils, and lingual tonsils. Together they form a ring of lymphoid
tissue around the throat, and their main job is to trap pathogens
from the food you eat and air you inhale.

LYMPHANGITIS
Inflammation of the lymph vessels.
Commonest cause bacteria called