Lecture 4: Lymphatic Lecture Flashcards
What are the three anatomic components of the lymphatic system?
Lymph fluid
Lymphatic vessels
Lymphatic organs
What are lymphatic organs or tissues?
Spleen Liver Thymus Tonsils Appendix Visceral lymphoid tissue Lymph nodes
What is the physiologic function of the lymphatic system?
Plays a major role in homeostatic mechanisms of: Immune system Digestive system Fluid balance Waste
What is the role of lymphatic function?
Maintain fluid balance
Tissue cleaning/purification
Defense
Nutrition
How does the lymph fluid purify and cleanse the body?
Cleanses extracellular spaces
-gets rid of toxins, bacteria, waste products, etc
Where does lymph fluid travel to from the vessel?
What is the function of this structure?
Travels to lymph node, which acts as a purifying filter
Describe lymph nodes.
Contains high concentrations of immune cells to combat toxins, bacteria, waste products, etc from lymph fluid
How does the lymphatic system play a role in fat absorption?
Chylomicrons travel via lacteals into larger lymph vessels, thoracic duct, and eventually venous system
Returns proteins to vasculature
What tissues do not have lymph tissue?
Epidermis
Endomysium of muscle
Cartilage
Bone marrow
In what direction do lymph travels?
- Collecting vessels
- Afferent lymph vessels
- Lymph nodes
- Efferent vessels
- Lymphatic trunks
- Thoracic duct or right lymphatic duct
- Venous system
Where does lymph formation begin?
Interstitial space of tissues w/ initial lymphatics
- lined by leaky endothelium
- coalesce into collecting vessels
What are collecting vessels primarily made up of?
Lymphangions: chains of muscular units possessing a bicuspid valve
Where are superficial lymph nodes found?
Within subcutaneous tissue
Ex: cervical, axillary, and inguinal
Where are deep lymph nodes found?
Beneath fascia, muscle, and organs
What is the pathway of lymph through a lymph node?
- Afferent lymphatics
- Subscapular space
- Outer cortex: rich in B cells
- Deep cortex: rich in T cells
- Medullary sinus: rich in B cells
- Efferent lymphatics
From where does the lumbar lymphatic trunk drain?
Lower limbs and pelvic organs
From where does the intestinal lymphatic trunk drain?
Abdominal viscera
From where does the bronchomediastinal lymphatic trunk drain?
Portions of thorax
From where do the subclavian lymphatic trunk drain?
Upper limbs
From where do the jugular lymphatic trunk drain?
Portions of neck and head
What is cisterna chyli?
Drains lymphatic trunks of lower body and gives rise to thoracic duct
-Level of L1/L2
What is the function of the thoracic duct?
Receives all drainage from the body except right upper portion
What does the right lymphatic duct drain?
Right head/neck Right UE Right thorax Heart Lungs (except LUL)
What is Virchow’s node?
left-sided supraclavicular lymph node - lymphadenopathy could signify intra-thoracic or abdominal CA
