Lymphatics and Full body treatment Flashcards
What are the three components of the lymphatic system?
- Lymph
- Channels
- Organized lymph tissue
How soon will a human die if the lymph system stops functioning?
24 hours
What is lymph?
Clear, coagulable fluid that passes from the intercellular space into lymphatic vessels
What does lymph resemble?
Blood plasma
What are the cells that comprise lymph?
Lymphocytes
WBCs
What are the functions of lymph (4)?
- remove bacteria and proteins
- Transport fat
- Supply lymphocytes
- Bathe and nourish the tissues
What is the most organized lymph tissue?
Lymph nodes
What are lymph nodes?
Organized lymphatic tissues dispersed along the course of the lymph vessels
How many deep lymph nodes are there?
400-450
What are the two major functions of the lymph node?
- Filter lymph via macrophages
- Activates the immune system if microorganisms are detected
Where isn’t the lymphatic system present? (4)
- Brain/spinal cord
- Epidermis
- Endomysium
- Bones, teeth, bone marrow
What type of lymph tissue is found in the bone marrow, epidermis, brain/spinal cord, and endomysium?
Pre-lymphatics, which eventually empty into lymphatic vessels
What are the three main cellular structural components of the lymph system?
- Endothelial cells
- Valves
- Anchoring filaments
What are the three main organizations of the lymphatic system?
- Superficial system
- Deep system
- Organ-specific system
What connects the superficial and deep lymphatic systems? What is the function of these?
- Perforator vessels
- Conveys lymph toward the surface
What are the 4 functions of the lymphatics?
- Nutrition
- maintaining fluid balance
- purification and cleansing of tissues
- Defense
How many liters of fluid leak out of the capillaries daily? What percent of this drains back into capillaries? Where does the rest go?
- 30 L
- 90% drains back into the capillaries
- 10% drains into lymph
What percent of plasma proteins are carried back to the vascular system via lymph?
50%
What is the primary means of return of proteins after their efflux from the arterial capillaries?
Lymphatics
What are the four regions of the lymphatic system, based on the vessel walls?
- Lymphatic capillaries
- Precollectors
- Collectors
- Lymphatic trunks
What does the cisterna Chyli drain?
Abdomen, pelvis and lower limbs
Where is the cisterna chyli located?
Anterior right side of the L1-L2 vertebral bodies, but behind the right crus
What is the largest lymphatic vessel in the body?
Left lymphatic duct.
Where does the LLD drain?
Left jugulo-subclavian junction
What are the Peyer’s patches?
Clusters of the lymphoid system in the walls of the small intestines
Where are Peyer’s patches most densely located?
Small intestinal villi
True or false: the greater the lymphatic flow, the greater the immunity?
True
What is the effect of increased interstitial fluid pressure on the lymphatics?
Also increased interstitial fluid
What happens to the anchoring filaments when excess fluid enters the tissues?
They pull on the wall of the lymph capillaries
What happens to the lymphatic structures when tissues are compressed?
Pressure inside the capillary increases and the overlapping edges of the endothelial cells close like valve
Where does lymph fluid collect?
Into the collecting lymphatics
True or false: there is an intrinsic pumping mechanism of the large lymphatic vessels
True
What happens when a collecting lymphatic duct becomes distended?
Smooth muscles in the wall contract
True or false: valves exist in all lymphatic channels
True
What is the overall effect of lymphatic vessel contraction?
Moves lymph toward terminal drainage sites
What are the four diaphragms that alter lymph flow?
- Falx cerebri/tentorium
- Sibson’s fascia
- Thoracoabdominal diaphragm
- Pelvic/urogenital diaphragm
What are the two effects produced by the diaphragms that cause lymph to move?
Pressure differentials and direct masage
What are the three factors that ensure the the diaphragms move in unison?
- Neuro control
- Fascial attachments
- Pressure differentials
According to Dr. Zink, the flow rate of lymph back to the heart is directly proportional to what
Rate of respiration
Quality of respiration
What is the “heart” of the lymphatic system?
Thoracoabdominal diaphragm
What is the effect of OMM on the lymphatic system?
- Removes restrictions
- Promotes and augments flow
What are the steps of improving lymphatic flow?
- Assess for CCP
- Bring back to CCP if not
- Treat CCP
What are the two types of cancer that most commonly use the lymphatic system to metastasize?
Melanomas
Carcinomas
What are the three common reasons for reduced lymphatic return?
- Genetic defects
- Filariasis
- Surgery
Decreased plasma protein levels does what to lymph return?
Decreased
Increased interstitial protein levels does what to lymph return?
Decreased
What are the three contraindications to lymphatic treatments?
- Osseous fractures
- Bacterial infections with a temp greater than 102
- Certain carcinomas
