ANATOMY OF HEENT

EMROLOGY &LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

EMBROLOGY
Lymphatic system
Lymphatic system

•consists of:
•Lymph
•lymphatic vessels(lymphatics)
•Lymph nodes
•Lymphocytes
•Lymphoid organs
•three primary functions:
•drains excess interstitial fluid
•transports dietary lipids, and lipid-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K)
•carries out immune responses
Con’t…

•blood plasma filter through blood capillary walls to form

interstitial fluid.
•After interstitial fluid passes into lymphatic vessels, it is called
lymph - clear, pale-yellow fluid.
•Lymphatic vessels begin as lymphatic capillaries.
Lymphatic Capillaries

•slightly larger in diameter than blood capillaries.

•permits interstitial fluid to flow into them but not out.
•consist of a single layer of endothelium
•closed at one end
•held open by anchoring filaments
•contain elastic fibers.
•attach to surrounding tissues
•called lacteals in the small intestine, and the lymph is referred to as chyle - appear creamy white because of the
presence of chylomicrons.
Con’t…
•All tissues of the body have a network of lymphatic vessel except:
•avascular tissues such as cartilage, the epidermis, and the cornea of the eye.
•central nervous system
•portions of the spleen
•Bone, bone marrow
•larger lymphatic vessels resemble veins in structure but have thinner walls and more
valves.
•Lymphatic vessels join and form two large trunks: thoracic (left lymphatic) duct and
right lymphatic duct.
thoracic (left lymphatic) duct
•38–45 cm long and begins as a dilation called the cisterna
chyli.
•the main duct for the return of lymph to blood.
•receives lymph from the left side of the head, neck, and chest,
the left upper limb, and the entire body inferior to the ribs.
•drains lymph into left subclavian veins.
•right lymphatic duct
•1.2 cm long
•receives lymph from the upper right side of the body
•drains lymph into right subclavian veins.
•Sequence of flow of lymph
•blood capillaries  interstitial spaces  lymphatic capillaries  lymphatic
vessels
 lymphatic ducts.
•lymphatic flow is aided by contraction of surrounding skeletal muscle.
Lymphoid organs

•classified into two groups based on their functions:

•Primary lymphatic organs
•sites where lymphocytes are produced and developed.
•these are red bone marrow, and thymus.
•secondary lymphatic organs
•sites where most immune responses occur.
•they include lymph nodes, the spleen, and lymphatic nodules like tonsils.
Lymph Nodes

• small, bean-shaped masses of lymphatic tissue

• located along the course of lymphatic vessels
• covered by a capsule
• contain clusters of lymphocytes & macrophages.
• filter the lymph
• abundant and accessible to palpation in the axilla, the groin and femoral
region, and the neck.
Fig. Relationship of lymphatic capillaries to tissue cells and blood capillaries
The End!!!

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