The Lymphatic System

The Lymphatic System

The cells, tissues and organs responsible for

defending the body against both environmental
hazards, such as various pathogens, and
internal threats, such as cancer cells.
Lymphocytes are the primary cells of this
system.

The Lymphatic System consists of

Lymph

Lymphatic vessels

Lymphoid tissues and organs

Lymphocytes and other cells

Formation of Lymph

Plasma seeps from capillaries, surrounds cells

and forms tissue fluid
Most of the tissue fluid returns to general
circulation via venules
Excess tissue fluid enters the lymphatic vessels
and forms LYMPH

Formation of Lymph

Functions of the Lymphatic System

1.

The production, maintenance, and

distribution of lymphocytes that provide
defense against infections and environmental
hazards.
Lymph nodes and other lymphatic organs
filter lymph to remove microbes and other
foreign particles. The Lymphocytes destroy
them.

Functions of the Lymphatic System

(contd)
2. Returns excess interstitial fluid to the blood.
Lymph capillaries pick up excess interstitial
fluid and proteins and return them to the
venous blood.
Lymph re-joins blood at the right and left
subclavian veins.

Functions of the Lymphatic System

(contd)
3. Absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins
from the digestive tract and the subsequent
transport of these substances to the venous
circulation.
In the centre of the villi lining the small
intestine are blood capillaries and lacteal
vessels.
The lacteals absorb the fat and fat-soluble
vitamins from the intestinal tract

Structure of Villus with Lacteal

Lymphatic Vessel

Lymphatic Vessels

Carry lymph from peripheral tissues to the

venous system.

The smallest lymphatic vessels are called

Lymphatic Capillaries

Lymphatic Capillaries

Begin in tissue spaces as pockets

Are found throughout the body except the
bone marrow, CNS and the epidermis
Composed of an endothelium with limited or
absent basal lamina.
The simple squamous cells of the endothelium
have overlapping ends that form one-way
valves

Overlapping Endothelial Cells of

Lymphatic Capillaries

Other Features of Lymphatic

Capillaries

Larger diameters than blood capillaries

Thinner walls than blood capillaries
Typically flattened or irregular in outline

Lymphatic Vessels

Lymph capillaries merge to form Lymphatic

Vessels
Lymphatic vessels lead toward the bodys
trunk
The walls of these vessels are similar to those
of veins
Lined by valves; seen as bulges on surface

Lymphatic vessel with valve

Two Sets of Lymphatic Vessels

Superficial Lymphatics
Located in the

subcutaneous layer deep to

the skin
Areolar tissues of the mucous
membranes lining the
digestive, respiratory, urinary
and reproductive tracts and
that of the serous membranes
of the pleural, pericardial and
peritoneal cavities

Deep lymphatics
Located in the

Skeletal muscles
Other organs of the neck,
limbs and trunk and the walls
of visceral organs

Lymphatic Trunks

Lymphatic vessels join to form larger

tributaries called Lymphatic Trunks

Right and Left Lumbar Trunks

Intestinal Trunk
Right and Left Bronchomediastinal Trunks
Right and Left Subclavian Trunks
Right and Left Jugular Trunks

Lymphatic Trunks and the Areas

they Drain

Lumbar lower limbs, walls and viscera of

pelvis, kidneys, adrenals and abdominal wall
Intestinal stomach, intestine, pancreas,
spleen and liver
Bronchomediastinal trachea, bronchi, lungs
mamma and heart
Subclavian subclavian lymph nodes
Jugular cervical lymph nodes of head and
neck

Lymphatic Trunks

Lymphatic Ducts

Lymphatic trunks merge until the lymph enters

two Lymphatic Ducts

Right Lymphatic Duct drains lymph from the

upper right quadrant of the body

Thoracic Duct drains areas inferior to the

diaphragm and from the left side of the body
superior to the diaphragm

Areas drained by the Lymphatic

Ducts
Drainage of Right
Lymphatic duct

Drainage of Thoracic duct

Lymphatic Ducts

The Right Lymphatic Duct receives lymph from

Right jugular trunk

Right subclavian trunk
Right bronchomediastinal trunk

The Thoracic Duct receives lymph from

Right and left lumbar trunks

Intestinal trunk
Left bronchomediastinal, subclavian and jugular trunks

Lymphatic Ducts

Lymphatic Ducts

The Thoracic Duct empties into the left

subclavian vein near the left internal jugular
vein

The Right Lymphatic Duct empties into the

right subclavian vein

Lymphatic Ducts

Movement of Lymph

Pressure gradients to move lymph through

vessels come from

Skeletal Muscle action

Respiratory Movement
Contraction of Smooth Muscle in vessel walls

Lymphedema

An accumulation of interstitial fluids due to

the blockage of drainage of lymph from a
limb.
The limb becomes swollen and grossly
distended
If the condition persists the connective tissues
will lose their elasticity and the swelling
becomes permanent.

Lymphedema

Does not pose a major threat to life

But may lead to an accumulation of toxins and
pathogens due to the stagnation of lymph

Scrotal Lymphedema

Lymphedema

Causes of Lymphedema

Removal of lymph nodes

Infections with parasites such as filariasis
Injury
Radiation therapy
Skin infections such as cellulitis (more
common in obese patients)
Surgery
Tumors

Lymphoid Tissues

Connective tissues dominated by lymphocytes

Lymphoid Nodules have densely packed
lymphocytes in an area of areolar tissue
Lymphoid nodules may occur in clusters in
may areas in the body

Lymphoid Tissue

Lymphoid Nodules occur in connective tissue deep to

the epithelia lining the

Respiratory tract
Digestive tract
Urinary tract
Reproductive tract

They also occur within complex lymphoid organs

Lymph nodes
Spleen

MALT

Mucosa-Associated lymphoid tissue

A collection of lymphoid tissues that protect the

epithelia of the digestive, respiratory, urinary, and
reproductive systems
Examples:
Aggregated lymphoid nodules or Peyers Patches
Appendix
Tonsils

Tonsils

Clusters of lymphatic tissue under the

mucous membranes that line the nose, mouth
and pharynx.
There are three groups of tonsils:
1.

2.

3.

Pharyngeal near the opening of the nasal

cavity into the pharynx
Palatine near the opening of the oral cavity
into the pharynx
Lingual on the posterior surface of the tongue

Tonsils

Lingual Tonsil
Palatine
Tonsil

Tonsils

Lymphocytes and macrophages in the tonsils

provide protection against harmful substances
and pathogens that enter the body through the
nose or mouth.

Lymphatic Organs

Characterized by clusters of lymphocytes and

other cells such as macrophages, enmeshed in
a framework of short, branching connective
tissue fibres.
Lymphocytes proliferate in lymph organs
when the body is exposed to microbes and
other foreign agents. They are sent to the site
of invasion via the blood.

Lymph Nodes

Small, bean-shaped
Usually less than 2.5 cm in length
Distributed throughout the body along the
lymphatic pathways
Three superficial regions on each side of the
body where lymph nodes cluster:

Inguinal
Axillary
Cervical

Superficial Lymph Nodes

Lymph Nodes

Surrounded by a
connective tissue sheath
Divided into
compartments called
Lymph Nodules
Lymph nodules are
dense masses of
lymphocytes and
macrophages separated
by lymph sinuses

Lymph Nodes

Afferent lymphatic
vessels enter lymph
nodes on their convex
side and carry lymph
into the node
An efferent lymphatic
vessel leads lymph
away from the node at
the Hilum

The Thymus

A soft, bi-lobed organ

located anterior to the
ascending aorta and
posterior to the sternum
Decreases in size after
puberty

The Thymus

Functions:

Processing and maturation of T-lymphocytes

While in the thymus the T-cells do not respond to
pathogens and foreign agents
After maturation the T-cells enter the blood and go to
other lymphatic organs where they help in defense

Production of Thymosins which stimulate the

maturation of lymphocytes in other lymphatic
organs

The Spleen

Located in the upper left

abdominal cavity, just
beneath the diaphragm,
and posterior to the
stomach.

The Spleen

Similar in structure to
lymph nodes but is
much larger
The largest lymphatic
organ
Surrounded by a
connective tissue
capsule which extends
inward to divide the
organ into lobules.

The Spleen

Consists of two types of tissue:

White pulp lymphatic tissue consisting mainly of

lymphocytes around arteries

Red Pulp consists of venous sinuses filled with

blood and cords of lymphatic cells

Functions of the Spleen

Filters blood as it passes through the sinuses

Lymphocytes in the spleen react to pathogens in the blood

and attempt to destroy them. Macrophages engulf debris,
damaged cells and large particles.

Removes old and damaged RBCs from the blood

Produces lymphocytes especially in response to
invading pathogens
The sinuses in the spleen are a reservoir for blood.

Blood is squeezed out of the sinuses into general

circulation in cases of emergency