Anatomy and Physiology The Lymphatic System Chapter 15

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Anatomy and PhysiologyThe Lymphatic
SystemChapter 15

• Community Education
• Mr. Kestner

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Lymphatic System

• Consists of lymph, lymph vessels, lymph nodes,
  lymphatic tissue, and 4 organs
• Tonsils
• Spleen
• Thymus Gland
• Peyers Patches
• Works in conjunction with the circulatory system
  to remove wastes and excess fluids from the
  tissues

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Lymphatic System Functions

• Drain protein-containing fluid from tissue spaces
  (primary function)
• Interstitial fluid can cause edema
• Transport fats from the digestive system
• Via lacteals in the villi of the small intestine
• Produce lymphocytes
• A type of leukocyte
• Develop immunities
• antibodies

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Lymph

• A thin, watery fluid composed of intercellular,
  or interstitial fluid, which forms when plasma
  diffuses into tissue spaces
• Composed of water, digested nutrients, salts,
  hormones, oxygen, carbon dioxide, lymphocytes,
  and metabolic wastes such as urea
• When this fluid enters the lymphatic system, it
  is known as lymph

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Lymphatic Vessels

• Located throughout body in almost all of the
  tissues that have blood vessels
• Small, open-ended lymph vessels act like
  drainpipes and are called lymphatic capillaries
• Lymphatic capillaries pick up lymph at tissues
  throughout body
• Capillaries then join together to form larger
  lymphatic vessels, which pass through lymph nodes
• Contractions of skeletal muscles against lymph
  vessels cause the lymph to flow through the
  vessels
• Lymphatic vessels also have valves that keep
  lymph flowing one-way
• Drains lymph into blood via thoracic duct (main)
  or right lymphatic duct

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Lymph Nodes

• Popularly called glands
• Located all over body, usually in groups or
  clusters
• Small, round or oval masses ranging in size from
  that of a pinhead to an almond
• Filter lymph and remove impurities such as
  carbon, cancer cells, pathogens, and dead blood
  cells
• Produce lymphocytes and antibodies

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Lymphatic Tissues

• Tonsils masses of lymphatic tissue that filter
  interstitial fluid there are 3 pairs
• Palatine tonsils located on each side of the
  soft palate
• Pharyngeal tonsils (also called adenoids)
  located in the nasopharynx
• Lingual tonsils located on the back of the
  tongue
• TA not performed as often due to better
  understanding of importance of these tissues

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Lymphatic Tissues

• Spleen
• An organ located beneath the left side of the
  diaphragm and in back of the upper part of the
  stomach
• Produces leukocytes and antibodies
• Destroys old erythrocytes
• Stores erythrocytes to release into bloodstream
  if excessive bleeding occurs
• Releases hemoglobin to be recycled
• Filters metabolites and wastes from body tissues

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Lymphatic Tissues

• Thymus
• A mass of lymph tissue located in center of upper
  chest
• Atrophies after puberty and is replaced by fat
  and connective tissue
• During early life, it produces antibodies and
  manufactures lymphocytes to fight infection
• Its function is taken over by the lymph nodes

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Lymphatic Tissues

• Peyers Patches
• AKA aggregated lymphatic follicles
• Found in wall of small intestine
• Resemble tonsils
• Macrophages destroy bacteria
• Prevents bacteria from infecting and penetrating
  walls of the intestine

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Lymphatic Tissue
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Immunity

• Ability of body to resist infection from
  pathogens
• Active response from antigen or vaccination
• Passive via placenta, breast milk, or antivenom
• Antigens
• Foreign proteins that gain access to our bodies
  via circulatory, digestive, respiratory, urinary
  and reproductive systems
• Cause immune system to produce high molecular
  weight proteins called antibodies
• Antibodies or Immunoglobulins
• Bind with specific antigens
• Binding causes agglutination
• Leukocytes eat agglutinate by phagocytosis

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Diseases and Abnormal Conditions

• Adenitis
• Hodgkins Disease
• Lymphangitis
• Splenomegaly
• Tonsillitis

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Adenitis

• Inflammation or infection of lymph nodes
• Occurs when large quantities of harmful
  substances, such as pathogens or cancer cells,
  enter the lymph nodes and infect the tissue
• Symptoms include fever and swollen, painful nodes
• If infection is not treated, an abscess may form
  in the node
• Usually treatment methods are antibiotics and
  warm, moist compresses
• If an abscess forms, it is sometimes necessary to
  incise and drain the node (I D)

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Hodgkins Disease

• A chronic, malignant disease of the lymph nodes
• Most common form of lymphoma
• Symptoms
• Painless swelling of the lymph nodes, fever,
  night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, and pruritus
  (itching)
• Chemotherapy and radiation are usually effective
  forms of treatment

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Lymphangitis

• An inflammation of the lymphatic vessels
• Usually resulting from an infection in an
  extremity
• Symptoms include a characteristic red streak
  extending up an arm or leg from the source of
  infection fever chills and tenderness or pain
• Treatment methods include antibiotics rest
  elevation of the affected part and/or warm,
  moist compresses

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Splenomegaly

• An enlargement of the spleen
• Can result from an abnormal accumulation of RBCs
  mononucleosis and cirhosis of the liver
• Main symptoms are swelling and abdominal pain
• Increased destruction of cells could lead to
• Anemia
• Leukopenia
• Thrombocytopenia
• If spleen ruptures, intraperitoneal hemorrhage
  and shock can lead to death
• In severe cases, a splenectomy is performed

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Tonsillitis

• Inflammation or infection of the tonsils
• Usually involves the pharyngeal and palatine
  tonsils
• Symptoms include throat pain dysphagia fever
  white or yellow spots of exudate on tonsils and
  swollen lymph nodes near the mandible
• Antibiotics, warm throat irrigations, rest, and
  analgesics are the main forms of treatment
• Chronic, frequent infections or hypertrophy that
  causes obstruction are indications for
  tonsillectomy