Lymphatic System

Principles of Anatomy and

Physiology
Lymphatic System and Lymphoid Organs and
Tissues
The lymphatic system returns fluids leaked from blood vessels back to
the blood. It consists of 3 parts:

Lymphatic vessel:
Contains lymph
Lymphatics
Tissue cell

Interstitia
Lymph nodes l fluid

Blood Lymphati
capillar c
y capillary
Lymphatic System and Lymphoid Organs and
Tissues

Lymphatic vessel
Tissue cell

Blood capillary Interstitial fluid

Lymph Lymphatic capillary

Distribution and Structure of Lymphatic Vessels
Lymph capillary

• Absent from bones, teeth, bone

marrow, and the CNS

• More permeable than blood capillaries:

• Can take up larger molecules and

particles that blood capillaries
cannot

• Can act as a route for pathogens or

cancer cells to travel throughout
the body Larger
lymph
vessel
Distribution and Special
FeaturesIntimate association between blood capillaries and lymph capillaries

Blood capillary
Lymph capillary
Distribution and Structure of Lymphatic Vessels
Lymphaticcapillary

Lymph vessel endothelial cells

Backflow prevention valve

• Anchored to the matrix
by collagen filaments
• Increase in
extracellular fluid
(ECF)causes mini
valves to open
• Decrease in ECF
causes mini valves to
Lymphatic Vessels in the GI Tract

Lacteal:
absorb digested fat
and deliver fatty
lymph (chyle) to the
blood
Larger Lymphatic Vessels
• The larger lymphatic vessels have Lymph duct
Lymph
structures and tunics
trunk
similar to those of the
veins,
Lymph node
• Lymphati
walls,
c
with
• collecting
more
more
vessels
frequently.
internal valves.

• Collecting vessels in the skin

travel with the superficial veins,
but deep vessels travel with
arteries.
Lymphatic Trunks
Formed by union of the largest collecting vessels to drain large areas of the
body
Right jugular Left jugular
trunk trunk
Left subclavian
Right subclavian
trunk trunk
Right bronchomediastinal Left bronchomediastinal
trunk trunk

Right lumbar Left lumbar

trunk trunk
Intestinal trunk
Larger Lymphatic Vessels
Right internal jugular Left internal jugular vein
vein

Thoracic duct
Right lymphatic
duct

Right subclavian Left subclavian

vein vein

Cysterna chyli
of thoracic
duct

Drained by right lymphatic

duct Drained by
thoracic duct
Lymph Transport
The lymph system is a low-pressure system like the venous
system.
Lymph Transport

Mechanisms

Milking action of skeletal muscle

Pressure changes in the thorax during breathing

Valves to prevent backflow

Pulsations of nearby arteries

Contractions of smooth muscles in walls of the lymphatics

Lymph Transport

Physical activity increases the flow of

lymph. Immobilization of the area keeps
needed inflammatory material in the area
for faster healing.
Lymphatic System and Lymphoid Organs and
TissuesLymphoid organs and tissues provide the structural basis of the
immune system by housing phagocytic cells and
lymphocytes.
Tonsils

Thymus

Spleen

Lymph nodes
Lymphoid Cells, Tissues, and Organs

Lymphoid cells consist of immune system

cells found in lymphoid tissue and supporting
cells that form lymphoid tissue structures.
Immune System
Cells

Lymphocytes:
cells of the
adaptive immune
system

T B
cells Protect against antigens cells

Examples:bacteria, toxins, viruses,

mismatched RBCs, cancer cells
Immune System
Cells

Lymphocytes:
cells of the
adaptive immune
system

T cells B cells
manage the immune produce plasma cells,
response and attack and which secrete antibodies
destroy infected cells
Other Lymphoid Cells

Phagocytize foreign substances

Macrophages
and help activate T cells

Capture antigens, deliver them to the

Dendritic
lymph nodes, and help activate T cells
cells
Supporting Lymphoid Cells

Reticular
cells
Reticula
r fibers

Stroma: network-like support that acts as scaffolding

for immune cells
Lymphoid Tissue

Main functions of the lymphoid tissue

Offers surveillance
Houses and provides vantage points for
proliferation sites for lymphocytes
lymphocytes and macrophages as
they filter through the
lymph
Lymphoid Tissue

Lymphoid tissue is largely composed of

reticular connective tissue(a type of loose
connective tissue):

• Macrophages live on reticular fibers.

• Spaces between fibers offer a place for

lymphocytes to occupy when they
return from patrolling the body.
2 Types of Tissue: Diffuse Lymphoid Tissue

• Loose arrangement of lymphoid

cells and some reticular fibers

• Found in virtually every organ

of the body

• Larger collections found in

the lamina propria of the
mucous membranes
2 Types of Tissue: Lymphoid Follicles (Nodules)
Germinal centers
of proliferating B
cells

• Solid, spherical bodies

consisting of tightly packed
lymphoid cells and reticular
fibers

• Isolated
patches and in the appendix Nodules
Lymphoid Organs 2 Functional Categories

Primary lymphoid organs Secondary lymphoid organs

• Areas where T and B cells • Areas where mature

mature red bone marrow lymphocytes first encounter their
and thymus antigen and become activated
• T and B cells: originate in the • Nodes, spleen, mucosa-
bone marrow, but only B cells associated lymphoid tissue
mature there; T cells mature in (MALT), and diffuse lymphoid
the thymus tissues
Lymph Nodes 2 Main
Functions
Secondary lymphoid organs Primary lymphoid organs

Tonsils Thymus

Spleen

Peyer s

patches

Appendix

Lymph nodes
Lymph Nodes

• Lymph nodes are the principal

secondary lymphoid organs of the body.

• Most nodes are embedded deep in the

connective tissue.

• Some are closer to the body surface

(inguinal, axillary, and cervical regions).
Here, collecting vessels converge into
trunks.
Lymph Nodes 2 Main Functions

Cleansing the lymph Immune system activation

• Lymph nodes act as lymph • Lymph nodes offer a place for

lymphocytes to become
• Macrophages remove and destroy activated.
microorganisms and debris that
enter the lymph. • They mount an attack against
antigens.
• Lymph nodes prevent unwanted
substances from being delivered
to the blood.
 Structure of a Lymph
•Node
Bean-shaped

• < 2.5 cm (~1inch)

• Surrounded by an external fibrous

capsule

• Has capsule fibers that extend inward 2

as trabeculae, which divide node into
compartments

• Two histologically distinct regions of the

node: 1

1. Cortex

2. Medulla
Cortex

Superficial area of cortex

Cortex

T cells
Cortex
Germinal centers:
Contain dividing B
cells

Dendritic cells
(DC): Associated
with T- and B-cell
activation

Lymphoid nodule Memory cell

DC present
the antigen to
the B cell
Plasma cell
Cortex

DC present the antigen to the T cell T cell proliferates

Medulla
Medullary cord: contains
macrophages and
antibody- producing
plasma cells

Artery

Vein
Medulla

Medullary cord Lymph sinus:large

lymphatic capillaries

Artery

Vein
Circulation in the Lymph Nodes

Medullary cord Lymph sinus

Medullary sinus Subcapsular sinus

Afferent lymphatic vessel

Efferent lymphatic vessel

Artery

Vein

Hilum
Circulation in the Lymph Nodes
Afferent lymphatic vessel Afferent lymphatic vessel

Afferent lymphatic vessel

Efferent lymphatic vessel

Artery

Vein

Hilum
Afferent lymphatic vessel Afferent lymphatic vessel
Spleen
Hilum

Spleni Spleen
c • Blood-rich organ
artery about the size
Spleni of a fist
c vein
• Is the largest
lymphoid organ
Spleen Function
s

• Site of lymphocyte proliferation and

immune surveillance and response

• Cleanses the blood of aged blood cells

and platelets

• Macrophages: remove debris

Spleen

Liver
Spleen
Spleen 3 Additional Functions

1 2 3
Stores breakdown Stores blood platelets and May be the site of
products of RBCs (e.g., monocytes for release fetal erythrocyte
iron) for into the blood when production
later reuse needed
Spleen
Trabecula

Red pulp

White pulp Arteriole

Venule
Spleen

White pulp Red pulp

• Site where immune function occurs • Site where old blood cells and
bloodborne pathogens are
• Contains mostly destroyed
lymphocytes on reticular
fibers • Rich in RBCs and macrophages
that engulf them
• Clusters around
the central arteries • Composed of splenic cords
(reticular tissue) that separate
blood-
filled splenic sinusoids (venous
sinuses)
Thymus

Thymus:
• Bilobed lymphoid organ
found in the inferior
neck
• Extends into the
mediastinum
• Partially overlies the
Thymus

• Site of T-cell maturation

• Is the most active and the largest in

size during childhood

• Stops growing during

adolescence, then gradually
atrophies

• After adolescence, still produces

immunocompetent cells, although
more slowly
Thymus

Cortex
Contains rapidly
dividing lymphocytes and
scattered macrophages

Medulla
Site of regulatory
T-cell development
Thymus Differences from Other Lymphoid
Organs
1 Has no lymphoid follicles

2 Does not directly fight antigens

• Functions strictly in T-lymphocyte maturation
• Contains the blood-thymus barrier keeps immature T lymphocytes
isolated from any antigens to prevent premature activation

3 Stroma:
• Made up of epithelial cells
• Provide an environment in which T lymphocytes become immunocompetent
Lymphoid Nodules

MALT Tonsils

Appendix
MAL
T
Mucosa-associatedlymphoid tissue (MALT): Largest collections of MALT found in:

• Lymphoid tissues in mucous • Tonsils

membranes throughout the body
• patches
• Protects from pathogens trying to
• Appendix
enter the body
• Found in the mucosa of the respiratory
tract, genitourinary organs, and
digestive tract
Tonsil
s

• Simplest lymphoid organs

• Form a ring of lymphatic

tissue around the pharynx;
appear as swellings of
mucosa
Tonsil
s

Palatine tonsil:
posterior end of the oral
cavity (largest of the
tonsils and the most
often infected)
Lingual tonsil:
lumpy collection
of follicles at the base
of the tongue
Tonsil
s

Pharyngeal tonsil:
also called adenoids

Tubal tonsil:
posterior end of
the oral cavity
Tonsil
s
Crypt

• Tonsils' function: gather and Stratified

remove pathogens in food or squamou
air s
• Contain follicles with germinal epithelium
centers and scattered
lymphocytes Germina
• Not fully encapsulated l
centers
Tonsil
s
Crypt

Stratified
• The overlying epithelium squamou
invaginates, forming tonsillar s
crypts. epithelium
• Bacteria or particulate matter
enters crypts, where they are
trapped and destroyed. Germina
l
centers
• Clusters of lymphoid follicles in the
wall of the distal portion of the small
intestine

• Also called aggregated

lymphoid
nodules Peyer s
• Structurally similar to
tonsils patches
• Functions:

• Destroy bacteria

• Generate memory lymphocytes

Appendix

• Offshoot of the first part of the

large intestine

• Contains many lymphoid follicles

• Location aids in functions:

Appendix
• Destroy bacteria, preventing
them from breaching the
intestinal wall

• Generate
lymphocytes
In a
Nutshell
The lymphatic system comprises the
lymphatic vessels, lymph, and lymph
tissues and organs, as well as immune
cells.

Its functions are to collect, filter, and

clean interstitial fluid, and then return it
to the blood.

Like the veins of the circulatory system, the

lymphatic vessels are a low-pressure
system.

The lymph organs play an integral role in the

body s immune response to antigens.