Lymphatic System Flashcards
What makes up the lymphatic system?
Immune system and transport system
What is the function of the lymphatic system?
drainage function that transports excess fluid (lymph) to the lymph nodes and then disperse the fluid on the venous side of the vascular system.
What is the structure of the lymphatic system?
Made up of lymphatic capillaries and lymphatic vessels
Lymphatic capillaries spread throughout most tissues and collect a fraction of the interstitial fluid.
Lymphatic capillaries form plexuses from which larger lymphatic vessels take origin from.
Larger lymphatic vessels closely resemble veins in structure but are more delicate in structure.
Contains closely spaced valves.
Many of the smaller vessels will follow the same path as the vascular and nervous system.
A few of the largest vessels will take independent course
Lymph is generally pale in colour making the lymphatic vessels less conspicuous.
What are the immune elements of the lymphatic system?
The lymphatic system has greater permeability than the vascular system allowing particulate matter and microorganisms to be transported.
Lymph fluid is filtered through lymph nodes to aid the immune system.
Lymph nodes are found throughout the lymphatic system and all lymph fluid will pass through at least one node
Groups of neighbouring nodes are known as lymphocenters.
What are the lymph nodes?
As the fluid passes through the lymph node phagocytes remove and destroy particulate matter and microorganisms.
Nodes also produce lymphocytes that are deposited into the lymph while it is filtering through the nodes.
Lymphocyte are then dispersed through out the body
Swelling of a lymph node often indicates presence of a disease that has been filtered out of the lymph.
