Lymphatic System Wk12 Flashcards
What is the role of the lymphatic system?
To return Fluid from intersistial space to the arterial system
What are the lymphatics responsible for?
Returning proteins and plasma and fluids back to venous drainage
Functions of lymphatic system include
Fluid homeostasis, filter contents of extracellular tissue space, cell populations of blood, lymphocytes & antibodies production, fat absorption from the gut
Fat absorption from the gut
- lacteals contain chyle and drain into thoracic duct
Here lymph thicker & contains more protein
and fat (milky appearance)
This means lymph from gut goes directly to
venous circulation - not through liver first
Name the components of the lymphatic system
Lymphatic vessels (channels)
* lymph nodes (filters)
* other masses of lymphoid tissue
* spleen, thymus, walls of gut (e.g.,
appendix) & bone marrow
Describe how lymph travels from interstitial space to
venous drainage
Through lymphatic channels and end by delivering fluids into veins
Lymphatic channels begin as
dilated, bulb-like blind swellings in tissue spaces
Lymphatic channels form networks in tissue
spaces that form trunks that pass through lymph nodes
Dermis has the high
density of lymphatics
Lymph nodes act as
filters = - collections of lymphocytes bound by connective tissue
Movement of lymph is based on
pressure changes in the tissue - contraction of surrounding muscles that help
Intrathoracic pressure sucks ___
Negative intrathoracic
pressure during inspiration sucks lymph up
thoracic duct
Where does the lymph drain into?
Lymph vessels from lower trunk empty to thoracic duct - SVC (b/w left int jugular vein & left subclavian vein)
Lymph from right side of the neck, right arm, and parts of the right thorax enter the right lymphatic duct & much
smaller than thoracic duct
What are the main lymph nodes?
Cervical, axillary, deep, inguinal, femoral, pericranial ring, tracheal nodes
What sites are palpable?
Axilla, groin, femoral region, neck
Which sites are not palpable?
Trachea and bronchi in thorax
Aorta
Branches in abdomen
Name lymphoid tissues in the body
Primary: Thymus & Bone marrow
Secondary: Lymph nodes; Tonsils (oral cavity +
nasopharynx); Spleen;
Peyer’s patches (GIT);
Vermiform Appendix
(GIT); Mucosa Associated
Lymphoid Tissue
Function of glymphatic system is
- Waste clearance (esp sleep)
- Distribution of nutrients incl glucose throughout the brain
When our glymphatic system is not working,
Neurodegenerative diseases where accumulation of
pathological proteins and plaques is a feature
In Alzheimer’s disease, we see
clearance of Ab plaques
What is the
Periarterial CSF inflow → interstitial fluid (brain parenchyma) mmt
into astrocyte facilitated by aquaporin-4 → perivenous space + cranial and spinal nerves. Transported out of CNS by meningeal
lymphatic vessels
