The Lymph

System and
Lymphoid
Organs and
Tissues
 Overview

 lymphatic vessels
 lymph
 lyphoid cells and tissues
 lymphoid organs
o lymph nodes
o spleen
o thymus
o tonsils
o other lymphoid tissue
 lymphatic vessels

 collects excess
interstitial fluid
 returns fluid to
blood
 one way system
o flows toward the
heart
 lymphatic vessels

lymphatic
capillaries
 - cells
overlap
 - collagen
filaments
anchor
ends
 lymphatic vessels

lacteals
- specialized
lymph capillaries
in lining of small
intestine
 - absorb fats
 - chyle = fatty
lymph that is milky
white
 - moves into
lymph vessels
 lymphatic vessels

lymphatic
ducts
 - right
 - thoracic
 - cisterna
chyli -
enlarged sac
where lumbar
trunks meet
 lymph

- similar to blood
plasma
 - white blood cells
 - debris/pathogens
 lymph transport
 no pump
 skeletal muscles
 muscles used to breathe
o diaphragm
o intercostal muscles
 smooth muscle in
lymphatic trunks and
thoracic duct
 valves prevent backflow
 arterial pumping
 lymphoid cells

 lymphocytes
o T cells
o B cells
 macrophages
 dendritic cells
 reticular cells
lymphoid tissue

 houses and
provides a site
for proliferation
of lymphocytes
 surveillance
point for
lymphocytes
and
macrophages
 lymphoid tissue

types
• diffuse
o found in every
body organ
o scattered
• lymphoid
follicles
o solid spherical
bodies
o germinal center
 lymph nodes

clusters
- inguinal
- axillary
- cervical
functions
- filter lymph
- help activate the
immune system
 lymph nodes

- average 1" bean

shaped
 - capsule with
trabeculae
 - cortex
 - medulla
 lymph nodes

flow through
node
 - afferent lymph
vessels
 - efferent lymph
vessels
LYMPH NODES
spleen

• size of fist
• largest lymphoid
organ
• site of lymphocyte
proliferation
• site of immune
surveillance
 spleen

• cleans the blood

o stores and releases
breakdown products of
RBCs
o stores blood platelets
o site of RBC production
in fetus
spleen
thymus
thymus

• many thymic lobules

• cortex
o rapidly dividing
lymphocytes
• medulla
o thymic corpuscles
 development of
regulatory T cells
• prevent autoimmune
diseases
tonsils  palatine tonsils
 lingual tonsil
 pharyngeal tonsil
 tubal tonsils
tonsils

tonsillar crypt
other lymphoid tissue

Peyer's
patches
 - aggregated
follicles in the
far end of the
ileum and
appendix
 - immune
function of GI
tract