X.

LYMPATHIC
SYSTEM
Ms. Anne Rose L. Calimlim, RN, MAN
PRMSU- Iba, Main Campus
SY: 2021-2022
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
Network of tissues, organs and
vessels that help to maintain the
body ’s fluid balance & protect
it from pathogens.
 FUNCTIONS OF THE
1.
LYMPHATIC
Fluid Balance.
SYSTEM
 About 30L of fluid pass from the
blood capillaries into the interstitial
spaces each day.
 At least 3L of this fluid enters the
lymphatic capillaries. Once inside
the lymphatic capillaries, this fluid
is called lymph and it passes
through the lymphatic vessels to
return to the blood.
FUNCTIONS OF THE
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
2. Lipid Absorption.
 In the small intestine, lymphatic capillaries called lacteals are critical for the
transport of dietary lipids and lipid-soluble vitamins to the bloodstream.
 In the small intestine, dietary triglycerides combine with other lipids and
proteins, and enter the lacteals to form a milky fluid called chyle.
 The chyle then travels through the lymphatic system, eventually entering the
liver and then the bloodstream.
FUNCTIONS OF THE
LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
3. Defense.
Pathogens, such as microorganisms and other foreign substances, are filtered
from lymph to lymph nodes and from blood by the spleen. Lymphocytes and
other cells are capable of destroying pathogens.
LYMPH
 Lymph is a clear watery fluid that resembles blood
plasma but has fewer proteins and its composition
varies depending on organs that it drains.
 the lymphatic system handles 125 ml/hr (2500-2800
ml of lymph/day) ~1/2 of this from the liver and small
intestine alone.
 LYMPHATIC VESSELS
(LYMPHATICS):
Lymphatic Capillaries originate in tissues as tiny blind ended sacs.
 lie side by side with blood capillaries
 single layer of endothelial cells like blood capillaries
 but much more permeable to solvents, and large solutes and whole
cells
Lymphatic Vessels - these small lymphatic capillaries merge with
others to form larger lymphatic vessels (they resemble veins in
structure):
 three layers – but much thinner
 1-way valves – but many more (every few mm or so), also has
lymph nodes at intervals along its course
 as they converge, they become larger and larger
 LYMPHATIC DUCTS
Two major Lymphatic Ducts
1. Right Lymphatic Duct: very short, drains upper right
quadrant of body drains into right subclavian vein.
2. Thoracic Duct: much larger and longer, drains the rest
of body (3/4ths): all of body below diaphragm, left arm
and left side of head, neck and thorax begins just below
the diaphragm, anterior to vertebral column lumbar
trunks and intestinal trunk join to form saclike cysterna
chyli that drains into left subclavian vein.
FLOW OF LYMPH
 Fluid pressure in lymphatic system is very low like in veins
 Vessels contract rhythmically, and the direction of flow is
maintained by 1-way valves
 Body movements and pulsing of arteries help to move lymph along
LYMPH CIRCULATION
 LYMPH NODE
 also called lymph glands
 oval, vary in size from a small seed to
a shelled almond
 most numerous of the lymphatic
organs (100’s)
 3 types of lymph nodes on each side
of the body: (1) inguinal nodes in the
groin, (2) axillary nodes in the axilla,
(3) cervical nodes in the neck.
Capsule: dense, connective tissue that
surrounds each lymph node.
Afferent lymph vessel: where lymph enters
the lymph node.
LYMPH NODE
Efferent lymph vessel: where lymph exits
the lymph node.
Trabeculae: extensions of the capsules
which subdivides a lymph node into
compartments containing lymphatic tissue
and lymphatic sinuses.
Lymphatic sinuses: spaces between the
lymphatic tissue than contain macrophages
on a network of fibers.
Germinal center: lymphatic nodules
containing the rapidly dividing
lymphocytes. The newly produced
lymphocytes are released into the lymph
and eventually reach the blood, where they
circulate and enter other lymphatic tissues.
FUNCTIONS OF LYMPH NODES
1. Cleanses lymph - as lymph flows through sinuses of node, it
slows down, and microorganisms and foreign matter are removed.
2. Alerts immune system to pathogens.
3. Important in hemopoiesis - lymphocytes and monocytes are made
here.
OTHER MAJOR ACCESSORIES OF
LYMPHATIC ORGANS
 Tonsils
 Thymus
 Spleen – largest
 Peyer’s patches
 Appendix
 3 groups of tonsils
Paired palatine tonsils: referred to as “the
TONSILS
1.
tonsils”. Located at each side of the posterior
opening of the oral cavity. The removal of
palatine tonsils is called an adenoidectomy.
2. Pharyngeal tonsils: Located near the internal
opening of the nasal cavity. When enlarged, it is
called adenoid and it can interfere with normal
breathing. When removed it is called
tonsillectomy.
3. Lingual tonsil: on the posterior surface of the
tongue. The lingual tonsil is less infected than the
other tonsils and is more difficult to remove.
 THYMUS
Bilobed gland, triangular in shape, located
in the superior mediastinum. Each lobe of
thymus is surrounded by a thin connective
tissue capsule.
 Trabeculae: divides each lobe into
lobules.
 Lobules contain the cortex and medulla.
 Cortex: where lymphocytes are numerous
and form dark-staining areas
 Medulla: A lighter-staining, central
portion of the lobules has fewer
lymphocytes.
  Capsule: the spleen has an outer
capsule of dense connective tissue and a
SPLEEN small amount of smooth muscle.
 Trabeculae: divides the spleen into
small, interconnected compartments
containing 2 specialized types of
lymphatic tissue (white and red pulp).
 White pulp: crowded with
lymphocytes, monocytes and
neutrophils.
 Red pulp: packed with RBCs
 Performs several functions:

SPLEEN 1. Defense: helps screen blood and removes

pathogens and bacteria
2. Hemopoiesis: monocytes and lymphocytes are
made here (RBC’s also made here)
3. Erythrocyte and platelet destruction: spleen is
referred to “erythrocyte graveyard”. Iron is
salvaged from RBC’s.
4. Blood reservoir: able to store 350mL of blood.
If there’s a hemorrhage the liver can constrict
and pump blood into circulatory system giving
the body a self-transfusion (can squirt 200 ml
into blood in <1 minute).
 PEYER’S PATCHES

 Small masses of lymphatic tissue found throughout ileum region of small intestine
 Roughly egg-shaped lymphatic tissue nodules that are similar to lymph nodes in
structure
 Analyze and respond to pathogenic microbes in the ileum
APPENDIX  Most researchers agree that it has a
minor role in immune function – store
good bacteria.
 Blockage of the appendix can lead to
appendicitis, a type of inflammation
that is painful and potentially deadly.
If it bursts it releases dangerous
bacteria into the abdominal cavity.
 Treated by surgical removal of the
appendix and is called appendectomy.
 EDEMA
Any disruption of lymphatic flow
can lead to edema - excessive
accumulation of interstitial fluid
results from injury, inflammation,
surgery, or parasitic infections like
Elephantiasis.
METASTATIC CANCERS
 Metastasis is when cancer cells break free of original tumor and travel to other
sites in the body.
 Lymph nodes are common sites of metastatic cancer.
 Since lymphatic capillaries are so permeable, cancer cells can easily enter and
travel in the lymph.
 Tends to lodge in 1st node they enter and enlarge and destroy the node =
lymphoma.
 Once lymphoma is established, cells travel from there to other nodes.
ELEPHANTIASIS
 A tropical disease caused by lymphatic
obstruction.
 Victim is bitten by a mosquito infected
with a roundworm known as a filarial
worm.
 The resulting edema leads to fibrosis
and elephant-like thickening of the
skin.