Unit 9: Lymphatic System Flashcards
Lymphoid organs
encapsulated (fibrous connective)
–lymph nodes, spleen, thymus, tonsils
Lymphoid Tissues
connective tissues
–in the lining of body cavities
–in body organs - digestive, respiratory, urinary
Lymphatic Vessels
- Lymphatic capillaries
- Lymphatic vessels
- Lymphatic trunks
- Lymphatic duct
Function
•Transports: about three (3) liters of fluid (called LYMPH) from tissues back to blood vessels every 24 hours
•Protects: and defends body against diseases by:
–producing white blood cells & phagocytes
–housing agranular leukocytes
Components of lymph
proteins, fats, and fat soluble vitamins (D,A,K,E) transported from digestive tract to blood
Common Signs & Symptoms of Lymphatic Diseases
- Most disorders related to diseases of other systems (infection somewhere in the body)
- Fever, fatigue, weight loss
- Lymphocytosis or lymphocytopenia
Lymphadenopathy
swelling or enlargement of one or more lymph nodes
Most common symptom of Lymphadenopathy
enlargement of the nodes
Generalized Lymphadenopathy
multiple lymph nodes are diseased
Etiology of Generalized Lymphadenopathy
–leukemia
–metastatic neoplasms
–infections - TB, syphilis, fungal
–mononucleosis
Localized Lymphadenopathy
a few lymph nodes are diseased
Axillary Lymphadenopathy
caused by
–injury or infection of hands, arms, upper chest
–metastatic cancers from the lungs & breasts
Cervical (neck) lymphadenopathy
caused by –respiratory infections –injury or infection of the head or upper chest –mononucleosis, leukemia –lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease
Inguinal Lymphadenopathy
caused by
–injury or infection of feet, legs, groin, abdomen
–leukemia, mononucleosis, STDs
–late stage Hodgkin’s disease
–inflammation of the intestines, gall bladder, appendix, urinary tract
Lymphadenitis
Inflammation of the lymph nodes
•Usually physiologic as lymph nodes receive exudates from a site of injury or infection
Specific infections may grow in the lymph nodes and cause harm, e.g.,
–TB
–Syphilis in the late stages
–Typhoid fever (caused by Salmonella)
–Tularemia (rabbit fever) – transmitted to humans
–Any infection from the gall bladder or appendix
Lymphangitis
infection of lymph vessels
•common complication of a bacterial infection - acute streptococcal or staphylococcal infection of the skin
Lymphangitis: Symptoms
- Red streaks from infected area to armpit or groin (may be faint or obvious)
- Throbbing pain along the affected area
- Fever of 100-104 F
- Chills
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle aches
Tonsillitis
inflammation of the tonsils (sore throat)
Tonsils
lymph nodes in the back of the mouth and the nose
•help to filter out bacteria & other microorganisms to prevent infection
•become inflamed when overwhelmed by bacterial or viral infection
Tonsillitis: Symptoms
•Difficulty swallowing •Sore throat - lasts longer than 48 hours & may be severe •Tenderness of the jaw and throat •Voice changes, or loss of voice •Ear pain •Fever, chills •Headache
0
http://www.ghorayeb.com/AcuteTonsillitis.html
Neoplasms
Most are malignant
-called lymphomas=malignant lymphoma or lymphosarcoma
Two main types of neoplasms
- hodgkin’s lymphoma
- non-hodgkin’s lymphoma
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
most common lymphoma
•probably viral cause or genetic predisposition
•cancer cells – Reed-Sternberg cells (derive from B-Lymphocytes; very important for diagnosis)
•age 24 - 40, more common in males
•cancerous lymph nodes or tissues become hard & calcified
spread to lungs, spleen & lining of intestines
•some disfigurement over a period of month to years as the neoplasm spreads to other lymph nodes & lymph tissue
•life expectancy: 2-10 years
•20% mortality rate
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma begins with…
–tender, painless & enlarged cervical (most common) lymph nodes, usually on one side
–weight loss & fever
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Probably due to immunosuppressive meds
- B-lymphocytes or T-lymphocytes
- age 40-55, more males than females
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma begins with
–painless, enlarged cervical, axillary & inguinal nodes
–fever, night sweats & weight loss
•spreads faster - 25% 5 year survival rate
* lymph tissue is often the site of spread metastatic cancers of lungs, breast & stomach
Spleen
Lymphatic organ
Splenomegaly
enlargement of the spleen
Splenomegaly etiology
–trauma or injury to ribs or abdomen on left side
–infections - mononucleosis, salmonella, viruses
–neoplasms (leukemia)
Symptoms of spleenomegaly
–tenderness, pain & discomfort on the left side
–anemia (damage to red blood cells)
Danger of spleenomegaly
rupture of the spleen and hemorrhage
Hyperspleenism
overactive spleen
-filters out too many RBCs–> increased destruction anemia
Thymus
Lymphoid organ, near thyroid & the heart
- most active during childhood producing T-lymphocytes
- at puberty it is totally inactive & starts turning into fatty tissue
Malignant Thyoma
cancer of the thymus
- occurs in young adults
- metastasizes slowly, if at all
- causes swelling in the neck
- easily diagnosed –>surgically removed
Lymphedema
blockage of lymphatic drainage
Filariasis
results from scar tissue formation or parasitic infections—> may cause elephantiasis
elephantiasis
grossly distended, swollen limbs and external genitalia
Postmortem Conditions
- Edema
- Emanciation
- Dehydration
- Metastasis
Hyster–
prefix meaning uterus
–iasis
suffix meaning a process
Iatrogenic
results from the adverse activity of medical personnel
Idiopathic
of unknown cause
Inclusions
any foreign or heterogenous substance contained in a cell or in any tissue or organ that was not introduced as a result of trauma
Indigenous Flora
Plant life occurring or adapted for living in a specific environment
Infarction
formation of an area of necrosis in a tissue caused by obstruction in the artery supplying the area
Infection
the state or condition in which the body or a part is invaded by a pathogenic agent that, under favorable conditions, multiplies and produces injurious effects.
