THE LYMPHATIC

SYSTEM

THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

Lymphatic System

a subsystem of
thecirculatory
systemin the
vertebrate body that
consists of a
complex network of
vessels, tissues, and
Lymphatic System
organs.

vital part of the

Immune System

THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

MAIN FUNCTIONS
Drains excess
interstitial fluids
Transports dietary
lipids
Carries out
immune responses

THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

CONSISTS OF:
lymphatic vessels
lymphoid tissues
lymphoid organs

Lymphatic Vessels

el along with blood vessels

1. lymphatic
vessels

lymphatic capillary

Lymphatic Vessels

lymphatic ducts
lymphatic trunks
lymphatic collecting vessels

lymphatic capillary

Lymphatic Vessels
blind ended vessels
permeable to proteins
even cells
collect excess large
particles and tissue
fluid

Lymphatic Capillaries
tiny thin-walled
vessels that are closed
at one end
located in the spaces
between cells
throughout the body,
except in
thecentralnervous
system, and in nonvascular tissues.

Lymphatic Capillaries
Approximately 70% of
these aresuperficial
capillarieslocated near,
or just under, the skin.
The remaining 30%,
which are known
asdeep lymphatic
capillaries, surround
most of the bodys
organs.

Lymphatic Capillaries
Lacteals special
lymph capillaries
collect digested fats
(in chylomicrons)

Lymphatic Capillaries
Valves present to
prevent backflow

Lymphoid Tissues
diffusely located
throughout body in all
organs
contains germinal
centers with dense
population of B
lymphocytes
houses macrophages
Its main function is
host defense

Lymphoid Organs
Include:
Lymph Nodes
Spleen
Thymus
Tonsils
Function:
host defense
eliminates abnormal
(sick, aged, or
cancerous) cells and
pathogens

Lymphoid Organs
Lymph Nodes small,
encapsulated beanshaped structures
composed of lymphatic
tissue.

Lymphoid Organs
There are between 600700 lymph nodes present in
the average human body. It
is the role of these nodes to
filter the lymph before it can
be returned to the
circulatory system.

Although these
nodes can increase or
decrease in size
throughout life, any
nodes that has been
damaged or
destroyed, does not
regenerate.
Lymph nodes also
trap and destroy
cancer cellsto slow
the spread of the
cancer until they are
overwhelmed by it.

Lymphoid Organs
Efferent lymphatic
vesselscarry the filtered
lymph out of the node so
that it cancontinue its
return to the circulatory
system.

Afferent lymphatic
vesselscarry
unfiltered lymph
into the node.
Here waste
products, and
some of the fluid,
are filtered out.

Lymphoid Organs
Spleen site for
immune surveillance
and response
removes debris,
foreign matter, toxins,
bacteria, viruses, old
blood cells
readily subject to
rupture from
mechanical trauma

Lymphoid Organs
Thymus
site of maturation of T lymphocytes
secretes hormones (thymopoietin and
thymosins)
critical role in childhood

Lymphoid Organs

Tonsil trap and destroy

bacteria

Drainage Areas
Lymphatic system
drainage is organized
into two separate, and
very unequal drainage
areas. The right
drainage area clears
the right arm and
chest. The left
drainage area clears
all of the other areas
of the body including
both legs, the lower
trunk upper left of the
chest, and theleft
arm.

THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

Blood
capillaries
(blood)
Junctions of the
internal jugular and
subclavian veins
(blood)

Interstitial fluid
(Interstitial
spaces)
Lymphatic
Capillaries

Lymphatic
ducts
Lymphati
c
Vessels

Lymphati
c
Vessels
Lymphatic
nodes
(lymph)

References:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=KT4HbQv9BAE
https://www.britannica.co
m/science/lymphaticsystem