Intro to Lymphatics and Autonomics Flashcards
Functions of Lymphatic System
- Drain excess extracellular fluid from body and return it to the veins of the circulatory system
- Mounts immune responses in body
- Absorbs lipids from digestive tract
What is in lymph?
Interstitlal fluid and WBC’s, similar to plasma
Role of Lymph Nodes and What They Contain
Presence of infection?
Filter Lymph
Contain B and T cells (lymphocytes)
Can be enlarge in presence of infection
Primary Lymph Organs
Produce and mature lymphocytes (T and B cells)
Thymus and bone marrow
Secondary Lympohoid Organs
- Store lymphoctes and initiate adaptive immune responses
- Lymph nodes, spleen, lymphoid nodules in GI tract, tonsils
Structure of Lymphatic Vessels
- similar structure to blood vessels: tunica intima, tunica media, tunica adventitia
- Have valves to prevent backflow like veins
Structure of Lymphatic Capillaries
are like cardoivascular cappillaries and have only a monolayer of endothelium
Afferent Lymphatic Vessels
Drain from capillary beds towards lymph node
Found only with lymph nodes
Efferent Lymphatic Vessels
Drain away from lymph node towards venous system
Found with nodes and in the spleen and thymus
Flow of Lymphatic System
- Lymph vessels collect extracellular fluid in capillary beds
- Lymph flows to nodes via afferent vessels
- Lymph is filtered in nodes
- Lymph flows towards venous system via efferent vessels
- Lymph is returned to circulatory system at the subclavian veins
Right Lymphatic Ducts Drain Into:
Right subclacian vein
Left jugular trunk drains to
Left thoracic duct
Thoracic duct drains
at the junction of the L. subclavian and left internal jugular v.
drains left side of neck, head, thorax; left upper limb and all of abdomen and lower limbs into left subcalvian vien
Cisterna Chyli
dilation at the inferior end of the thoracic duct, receives lymph from abdomen, pelvis and lower limbs
Right upper limb drains through
small symphatic trunks to right subclavian vein