Lymphatic system

Lymphatic vessels
Lymphatic vessels originate as tiny hair-like capillaries in the interstitial spaces between cells. The walls of these vessels are thin and more permeable than the walls of blood capillaries. These capillaries join together to form larger lymphatic vessels that are similar in structure to veins, but thinner. Like veins, they have valves to prevent lymph passing backwards into the tissue. Unlike the circulatory system however, lymph is not pumped around the body, it depends on the movement of muscles, breathing and gravity. Lymphatic vessels accompany veins and arteries and are often found superficially. All of the lymphatic vessels eventually converge into either the thoracic duct or the right lymphatic duct. The thoracic duct is about 45 cm long and forms the largest confluence of lymphatic vessels in the body. It receives lymph from the left side of the body as well as the lower right side(below abdomen). It originates at the cisterna chyli, a small pouch that lies abdomen. From here the thoracic duct ascends the thorax, lying to the left of the vertebral column. It then joins with vessels from the neck and empties into the left subclavian vein at its junction with the left internal jugular vein. The right lymphatic duct is much shorter than the thoracic duct and may only be 1 cm long. It is formed by the confluence of several lymphatic vessels, which drain the right side of the head and thorax, and the right arm. It drains into the junction of the right subclavian and right internal jugular veins.

Lymphatic nodes
Lymph nodes are small bean shaped nodules that appear along the course of the lymphatic vessels. A number of afferent lymphatic vessels enter the node and disperse the lymph into the lumen of the node. The lymph is then collected from the lumen and leaves the node in an efferent lymphatic vessel which leaves the node at the hilum. Lymph nodes are full of lymphocytes and macrophages,reticular tissue .in between there is gap called as trabecula. These structure is held together by matrix of connective tissue. and function of lymphatic tissue are. 1. Filter pathogens from the lymph. 2. Provide lymphocytes for the blood. 3. Produce antibodies. Lymph nodes usually appear in groups in certain positions of the bodyt,the common lymph node are. Nodes Facial Position Face Drain Face

Cervical Axillary Inguinal Popliteal Thoracic

Neck Armpit Groin Behind the knee Surrounding thoracic organs

Head and neck Upper limb, breast and thorax Lower limb Leg Thorax

Abdominal Surrounding abdominal organs Abdomen

Spleen
The spleen is involved with the circulatory and lymphatic systems. It functions to produce white blood cells, recycle old blood cells, as well as fight infection. The spleen is a bean shaped organ about 12 cm long and 7 cm wide. It lies high on the posterior abdominal wall on the left side of the abdomen, behind the stomach and above the left kidney. The spleen receives blood from the aorta via the splenic artery, and is drained by the splenic vein. It is a mass of splenic pulp held together by a mesh of connective fibres which enclose it in a capsule. The pulp is made up of many types of cell including lymphocytes and phagocytes.Pulp may be either white pulp which contents lymphocyte and red pulp that content redcell. Function As blood flows through the spleen, any pathogens within it are attacked by lymphocytes in the splenic pulp. Macrophages in the spleen also remove worn-out red and white blood cells and platelets. This breakdown of haemoglobin produces the pigment bilirubin, which is released into the blood plasma. Bilirubin is removed from the blood by the liver and kidneys and is excreted in the bile and to a lesser extent in the urine. It act as immune fuction in our body. It also act as reservoir of the blood

Diffuse lymphatic tissue

Lymphatic tissue also occurs in places other than specialised lymphatic structures like the nodes or spleen. Lymphatic tissue can be found in the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, the thymus gland, the small intestine and the appendix.

Functions of the lymphatic system

The lymphatic system has three main functions, to maintain fluid balance, to defend the body against disease by producing lymphocytes and to absorb fats from the intestine and transport them to the blood. 1. Fluid balance

The fluid which release from the arterial end of the capillaries but the total volume of the fluid the leak from the capillaries can not go back to venous end of capillaries these interstitial fluid is called as Lumph and get transported via lymphatic vessels so it helps in fluid balance . 2. Defence Lymphatic vessels empty the tissue fluid into the lymph nodes before returning it back to the blood steam. It is here that any foreign cells i.e. viruses, bacteria and fungi or chemicals which are harmful to the body (pathogens) are detected and removed by lymphocytes (white blood cells) which congregate in the lymph nodes. Once a foreign microorganism has been detected an immune response is triggered and the lymphocytes in the lymph node multiply. 3. Digestion Some fats are too large to pass through the capillary walls of the small intestine and therefore can not be absorbed. Lymphatic vessels known as lacteals can absorb these large fats and transports them into the venous circulation via the thoracic duct. When the lymph contains fat it becomes milky and is known as chyle.

Antigen:-The foreign substance when they enter into our body they stimulate immune system to produce antibody Antibody:-The defensive structure that is produced by our immune system . Imuunity:-The defensive power of our body called as immunity Types of immunity Innate:-That derived at the time of birth Acquired:-Immunity that is acquired during the course of life Acquired immunity may be active immunity of passive immunity Active immunity is the immunity produced by our body with the stimulation of antigen(vaccination,infections) and passive immunity means transferring preformed antibody to our body(Inj. Of different type of immunoglobulin) called as passive immunity. Active immunity may be long term immunity of short term immunity.