Lymphatic System Flashcards
Describe the organisation of the lymphatic system
Lymph - lymphatic vessels - lymphoid tissues/organs - cells within tissues and organs
Describe lymph and how much is produced each day
Serum like, thin fluid (ph7.4)
3-5 litres and then recycled
What is chyle
Lymph from GI tract
Contains chylomicrons (fat)
And fat soluble vitamins
Vessel ordering in lymphatic system
Capillary, vessel, node, trunk, duct
Structure of lymphatic vessel
Capillaries Blind ended No basement membrane Endothelial cells and reticulin cells Contain valves One direction of flow Reticulin fibres hold in place
Lymph flow order
Tissue fluid from capillaries and cells goes to Capillary Vessel Node Trunk Duct
Lymph flow control
Vessels lie adjacent to veins and arteries, compression from these expanding can propel lymph Superficial and deep Contraction of muscles Smooth muscle cells in their walls Breathing Valves
Where is lymph not present
CNS (brain and spinal cord)
Lymphatic capillary vs Vein
Both have:
Valves
Low pressure
Lymph:
No cells present unless infection
Veins:
Lots of cells
Lymphatic trunks and ducts structure
Similar to larger veins
Larger valves (fibrocartilage)
Smooth muscle
Skeletal muscle and organ movement for flow
What is cisterna Chyli
Contains chyle from GI tract (central body region)
Where does upper right quadrant lymphatic drain to
Right lymphatic duct to the right subclavian vein/internal jugular vein
Where does the rest of the body drain to
Thoracic duct to the left subclavian vein/internal jugular vein
How many lymph nodes are there
600-700 in the body
3 most important lymph nodes
Armpit (axillae)
Groin (inguinal)
Neck (cervical)
Lymph node structure
Shaped like kidney
Multiple afferent vessels to enter (convex side)
1 single efferent vessel to leave (concave)
Each node has feeding artery and draining vein
Artery and vein run alongside efferent vessel
Capsule
Medulla (mature T lymphocytes)
What do lymph nodes contain
Follicles that contain immune cells (macrophages, dendritic, B cells, T cells and plasma cells)
Contain reticulin for connective tissue (made by reticular cells)
Follicular dendritic cells
In germinal centres of follicle
Antigen-antibody complex adhere to them
Cause proliferation of B cells and memory B cells
Lymph node draining an infection
Dendritic cell carries bacteria to lymph node
Macrophage engulfs + presents antigens
T cells activated
B cells activated
Plasma cells formed which produce antibodies
Antibodies go to blood
Difference between APC’s
B lymphocytes recognise antigens
Attacks invaders outside cells
T cells have to have foreign antigens presented to them by bodies own cells
Attacks invaders inside cells
Summary of lymph filtering
Traps antigen
Macrophage engulfs
Presents antigen
T lymphocytes activated
What do efferent vessels leave via
The hilum (indentation in node)