lymphatics Flashcards
Main function of lymphatic system
returns fluid that leaked from blood vessels back to blood
3 parts of lymphatic system
- network of lymphatic vessels
- Lymph (fluid in vessels)
- Lymph nodes (cleanse lymph)
Function of lymphoid organs/tissues and examples
- provide structural basis of immune system and house pagocytic cells/ lymphocytes
e. g. spleen, thymus, tonsils, lymph nodes
Lymphatic vessels
- function
- how much per day
- when is interstitial fluid considered lymph
- where AREN”T they found
return interstitial fluid and leaked plasma proteins back into the blood
- 3L/ day
- considered lymph once it enters lymphatics
- bones, teeth, bone marrow, and CNS
Lacteals
specialized lymph capillaries present in intestinal mucosa
-absorb digested fat and deliver fatty lymph (chyle) to blood
list the Structure of lymphatic vessels
- one way flow towards heart
- lymphatic capillaries, collecting lymphatic vessels, lymphatic trunks/ducts
Lymphatic capillaries
-similar to blood capillaries, but are super permeables (prots, cell debris, pathogens, cancer cells)
- endothelial cells loosly overlap to form one-way minivalves
- anchored by collagen filaments preventing collapse -> ECF opens minivalves
-Pathogens travel through body via lymphatics
Lymphatic Collecting Vessels
- what
- where
- how does it get nutrients?
similar to veins, but with thinner walls, more valves, and more anastomoses
- collecting vessels in skin travel with superficial veins
- deep vessels travel with arteries
- nutrients supplied from branching vasa vasorum
Lymphatic ducts
Lymph is delivered to one of two big ducts:
Right lymphatic duct drains right upper extremity and right side of head and thorax
Thorasic duct arises as cisterna chyli and drains the rest of the body
Both dump lymph into venous circulation at junction of internal jugular and subclavian veins
What propels lymph?
- milking action of skeletal muscles
- pressure changes in thorax from breathing
- valves preventing backflow
- pulsations of nearby arteries
- contractions of smooth muscle in walls of lymphatics
Main Lymphoid cells
-Lymphocytes = warriors of immune system arising in red bone marrow –> protect against antigens
T cells: manage immune response and attack/destroy infected cells
B cells: produce plasma cells which secrete antibodies (antibodies mark antigens for destruction by phagocytosis or not)
Other cells of lymphatic system
- Macrophages: phagocytize foreign substances and activate T cells
- Dendritic cells: capture antigens and deliver them to lymph nodes and activate T cells
Reticular cells: make reticular fiber stroma that supports other cells in lymphoid organs
Lymphoid Tissue
- function
- composition
-houses and provides proliferation site for lymphocytes; also is surveillance vantage point for lymphocytes and macrophages
Mostly reticular CT (loose):
- Diffuse lymphoid tissue
- lymphoid follicles
Diffuse lymphoid tissue
- made of lymphoid cells and reticular fibers
- in almost every body organ
- bigger collections in lamina propria of mucous membranes
lymphoid follicles
- solid, spherical bodies of tightly packed lymphoid cells and reticular fibers
- Germinal centers of proliferating B cells (if no B cells, then no follicles)
- may form part of bigger lymphoid organs
- in Peyer’s patches and appendix