Lymphatic

system
By – Yogesh Kumar
Student at VISM College
 Introduction
• The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes, and
ducts that pass through almost all bodily tissues. It allows the
circulation of a fluid called lymph through the body in a
similar way to blood. It is part of the immune system.
 Definitions
• The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes, and
ducts that collect and circulate excess fluid in the body.
o There are 500–600 lymph nodes throughout the body. These
nodes swell in response to infection due to a buildup of lymph
fluid, bacteria, or other organisms and immune system cells.
o The lymphatic system is part of the immune system. It also
maintains fluid balance and plays a role in absorbing fats and
fat-soluble nutrients.
 Functions
• The lymph system has three main functions, which are as
follow-
• Fluid balance
• Absorption
• The immune system
 • Fluid balance
• The lymphatic system returns excess fluid and proteins from
the tissues that cannot return through the blood vessels. The
fluid often collects in the tiny spaces surrounding cells, known
as the interstitial spaces. Small lymph capillaries connect these
spaces to the lymphatic system.
• Around 90% of the plasma that reaches tissues from the
arterial blood capillaries returns through the venous capillaries
and veins. The remaining 10% travels through the lymphatic
system.
• A disruption of fluid processing can result in localized
swelling, known as lymphedema.
 • Absorption
• The lymphatic system plays a key role in intestinal function. It
assists in transporting fat, fighting infections, and removing
excess fluid.
• Part of the gut membrane in the small intestine contains tiny
finger-like protrusions called villi. Each villus contains tiny
lymph capillaries, known as lacteals. These absorb fats and
fat-soluble vitamins to form a milky white fluid called chyle.
• This fluid contains lymph and emulsified fats, or free fatty
acids. It delivers nutrients indirectly when it reaches the
venous blood circulation. Blood capillaries take up other
nutrients.
 • The immune system
• The third function of lymph nodes is to defend the body from
exposure to potentially hazardous microorganisms, such as
infections.
• The body’s first line of defense involves:-
 physical barriers, such as the skin
 toxic barriers, such as the acidic contents of the stomach
 “friendly” bacteria in the body
• However, pathogens often do succeed in entering the body
despite these defenses. In this case, the lymphatic system
enables the immune system to respond appropriately.
 How does the lymphatic system
fight infection?
• The lymphatic system produces white blood cells called
lymphocytes. There are two types of lymphocytes: T cells and B
cells. They both travel through the lymphatic system.
• As they reach the lymph nodes, they come into contact with
viruses, bacteria, and foreign particles in the lymph fluid.
• Following contact, lymphocytes form antibodies and start to
defend the body. They can also produce antibodies from memory
if they have already encountered the specific pathogen in the past.
• The lymphatic system and the action of lymphocytes form part of
the body’s adaptive immune response. These are highly specific
and long lasting responses to particular pathogens.
Anatomy
 Anatomy
• The lymphatic system consists of lymph vessels, ducts, nodes,
and other tissues throughout the body.
• Lymphatic vessels collect interstitial fluid and transport it to
lymph nodes. These nodes filter out damaged cells, bacteria,
and other foreign bodies.
• Once this fluid passes out of the lymph nodes, it travels to
larger vessels and eventually lymph ducts, which converge in
the thoracic duct at the base of the neck.
• The thoracic duct returns filtered lymph into the bloodstream.
 Other lymphatic tissues
• Thymus gland: The thymus gland is a lymphatic organ and an
endocrine gland behind the sternum. It secretes hormones and is
crucial to the production, maturation, and differentiation of immune
T cells.
• Tonsils: The tonsils produce lymphocytes and antibodies. They can
help protect against inhaled and swallowed foreign bodies.
• Spleen: The spleen is not part of the connected lymphatic system,
but it is lymphoid tissue. It produces white blood cells and filters the
blood to remove microbes as well as old and damaged red blood
cells and platelets.
• Bone marrow: Bone marrow is not lymphatic tissue but is part of
the lymphatic system because it is here that the B cell lymphocytes
of the immune system mature.
Lymphatic vessels
• A thin tube that carries
lymph (lymphatic fluid) and
white blood cells through
the lymphatic system. Also
called lymphatic vessel.
Anatomy of the lymph
system, showing the lymph
vessels and lymph organs
including lymph nodes,
tonsils, thymus, spleen, and
bone marrow.
Lymph nodes
• Lymph nodes are small,
bean-shaped organs that
filter substances in body.
Cells that help fight
infections make up lymph
nodes along with lymph
tissue. There are hundreds of
lymph nodes throughout our
body. The most well-known
places where we’ll find
lymph nodes are in your
armpits, neck and groin.
 Lymph
• Lymph is a clear-to-white fluid made of: White blood cells,
especially lymphocytes, the cells that attack bacteria in the
blood and body tissues. Fluid from the intestines called chyle.
• Lymph contains a variety of substances, including proteins,
salts, glucose, fats, water, and white blood cells. Unlike our
blood, lymph does not normally contain any red blood cells.
The composition of lymph varies a great deal, depending on
where in our body it originated.
Some images related to this topic