Lymphatic System

Lymphatic SystemBy: Joshua Paolillo, Gianna Fusco, Shayna

Deluca,Mehdi Azizi

What is the Lymphatic System?

❖ A network of organs, lymph nodes, lymph ducts, and lymph vessels that make and move lymph from tissues to the bloodstream.

❖ The Lymphatic System is not a closed circuit

❖ http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/functions-of-the-lymphatic-system.html#lesson

Function ❖ Drain and return interstitial fluid to the

blood

❖ Absorb and return lipids from the digestive system to the blood

❖ Filter fluid of pathogens, damaged cells, cellular debris, and cancerous cells

Lymphatic vs Immune Lymphatic Immune

Function fluid recovery, immunity, and lipid absorption

provide long term immunity and defend against foreign substances by activating immune responses.

Organs Organ system - - - - -

Composition lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and other related organs

made up of basically B and T lymphocytes

Associations cardiovascular system nervous and endocrine systems

Immune cells in the lymphatic system❖ B cells- Cells produced in bone marrow that are

circulated through the lymphatic system and develop into either a plasma cell or memory cell.

❖ T cells- Cells that either initiate an immune response (T helper) or that kill bacteria, virus infected cells, and cancer cells ( Cytotoxic Lymphocytes).

❖ Macrophages- immune cells that engulf foreign invaders.

Lymphatic and Circulatory system ❖ work together to provide the body with lymph.

➢ produced in the lymphatic system and initially carried by lymphatic vessels, where it is moved via vessel contractions.

➢ From the lymphatic vessels, lymph goes into the lymphatic ducts.

➢ After moving through these areas, it empties into the circulatory system’s subclavian veins.

❖ Blood plays a major role in creating lymph. Blood plasma becomes a substance known as interstitial fluid when it comes into contact with body tissues. Some of this fluid enters lymphatic vessels, where it is then transformed into lymph.

About 10% of the plasma leaves the bloodstream in capillaries and enters the lymph vessels, which run one-way back toward the right atrium of the heart. A few proteins also are returned to blood through lymph. Lymphatic vessels, like small veins, have valves that keep the lymph flowing in the right direction.

Organs of the lymphatic System

❖ Spleen ❖ Thymus ❖ Tonsils ❖ Adenoids

Spleen❖ Largest organ of the lymphatic

system❖ Fxn: filter blood of damages

cells, cellular debris, and pathogens. ➢ houses and aids in the

maturation of lymphocytes ❖ Contains efferent (conducting

outward from a part or organ) lymphatic vessels, which transport lymph away from the spleen and toward lymph nodes

Thymus ❖ The thymus serves a vital role in the training and development of

T-lymphocytes or T cells. ➢ T cells defend the body from potentially deadly pathogens

such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.➢ Fxn: to receive immature T cells that are produced in the red

bone marrow and train them into functional, mature T cells that attack only foreign cells.

Tonsils ❖ Arrays of lymphatic

tissue located in the upper throat region

❖ Fxn: house lymphocytes and other white blood cells called macrophages➢ Protect the digestive tract

and lungs from disease causing agents that enter the mouth or nose

Adenoids ❖ Mass of soft tissue behind the

nasal cavity ❖ Fxn: contain glands that

secrete mucus to replenish the surface film. ➢ Moving film of mucus

carries infectious agents and particles inhaled through the nose down to the pharynx

Lymph❖ a colorless fluid containing white

blood cells (lymphocytes), that bathes the tissues and drains through the lymphatic system into the bloodstream.➢ circulates through body tissues picking up fats,

bacteria, and other unwanted materials, and filtering them out through the lymphatic system

➢ http://www.khanacademy.org/science/health-and-medicine/circulatory-system/lymphatics/v/lymphatic-system-immunity

Lymph Nodes❖ Small bean shaped

structures that look like tiny bulbs and lie along the lymph vessels➢ work as filters for harmful

substances. ➢ contain immune cells that

help fight infection by attacking and destroying germs that are carried by lymph fluid.

Structure of Lymph NodesCapsule- connective tissue that covers the lymph

node.Cortex- located under the capsule and contains most of the follicles.

Follicles- contains either B cells (primary) or T cells (secondary) and helps to filter lymph.

Germinal center- Areas in the secondary follicles that help B cells mature their antibodies and contain T cells.

Medulla- Region in the Lymph node that contains sinuses separated by Medullary cords. The sinuses contain Macrophages that engulf microorganisms.

Lymph node structure cont.

Afferent vessels- vessels that bring lymph to lymph nodes.

Efferent vessels- vessels that carry lymph away from lymph nodes.

Arteries and Veins- supply the lymph node with blood

Lymph Ducts ❖ Work in conjunction with

lymph nodes and other vessels to circulate disease-fighting lymph throughout the body➢ Duct: a tube, canal, or

vessel conveying a body fluid, especially a glandular secretion or excretion.

Lymphatic VesselsDescription

❖ tubular structures responsible for carrying lymph throughout the human body

❖ There are two kinds of vessels: afferent and efferent. The afferent vessels are similar to veins in that they transport fluid into the lymph nodes, while the efferent vessels are similar to arteries, carrying filtered lymph away from the lymph nodes.

Function❖ filters toxins and waste

products from somatic cells and tissues, and aids in the production of certain protein molecules.

Diseases of the Lymphatic system

Lymphedema- is chronic swelling of the limbs caused by the accumulation of lymph fluid that occurs if the lymphatic system is damaged or not functioning properly.

Hodgkin's lymphoma- is a type of cancer that typically occurs when the white blood cells in the body become diseased or damaged.

Lymphatic filariasis- is a disease in which parasitic worms infiltrate the lymph system via the bite of a mosquito.

Elephantiasis- infection of the lymphatic vessels causes a thickening of the skin and enlargement of underlying tissues, especially in the legs and genitals.

Diseases Cont.

Castleman disease- is the overgrowth of lymphatic cells that cause the growth of a benign tumor

• There are two types of Castleman’s disease

UniCentric- localized form of the disease affects only a single lymph node.

MultiCentric- affects multiple lymph nodes and lymphatic tissues, and can severely weaken your immune system. It sometimes accompanies HIV/AIDS

Diseases Cont.

Lymphatic System and Cancer ❖ How does it spread?

➢ Cancer cells break away from a tumor➢ Cells travel to other areas of the body via bloodstream

or the lymph system➢ Cancer cells may end up in lymph nodes➢ In order to spread the cell must:

■ first be able to break away from the original tumor and then attach to the outside wall of a lymph vessel or blood vessel.

■ Then move through the vessel wall to flow with the blood or lymph to a new organ or lymph node

➢ When cancer grows inside lymph nodes, it usually affects the lymph nodes near the tumor itself.

➢ These nodes are the ones that have been doing most of the work to filter out or kill the cancer cells.

TreatmentsElephantiasis- There is no

known vaccine or cure , best method of treatment is prevention.

Hodgkin's lymphoma- treatment is the same as for most cancers

- Chemotherapy - Radiation Therapy

Lymphedema- antibiotics can be prescribed, other form of treatments include compression garments, exercises, and manual lymph drainage.

Lymphatic filariasis- people usually take a yearly dose of a medicine called diethylcarbamazine (DEC), that kills the worms circulating in the blood

Treatments Cont.Lymphatic filariasis- people

usually take a yearly dose of a medicine called diethylcarbamazine (DEC), that kills the worms circulating in the blood

MultiCentric- Surgery usually isn’t an option.

-Antibodies - Corticosteroids

-Chemotherapy - Antiviral drugs

Castleman’s Disease UniCentric- Unicentric

Castleman disease can be cured by surgically removing the diseased lymph node.

- If Surgery isn’t possible the antibody Rituxan or corticosteroids may be prescribed to shrink the lymph node.

http://on.aol.com/video/how-to-perform-a-lymph-self-exam-326712290

Quick Quiz1. What are the 4 Major organs of the lymphatic system?

2. What side of the body does the thoracic duct drain?

3. What is the function of the thymus?

4. What is lymph?5. What is the largest organ in the lymphatic system?

Works Cited• Zimmermann, Kim Ann. "Lymphatic System: Facts, Functions & Diseases." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 08 Feb.

2013. Web. 05 Apr. 2014.

• "Immune and Lymphatic Systems." InnerBody. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2014.

• "The Lymphatic System." The Lymphatic System. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.

• "Health." Lymphatic System, Information about Lymphatic System. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.

• "Lymphatic System." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 May 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2014

• "Lymphatic System." ( Read ). N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.

• Mumprecht, Viviane Mumprecht, and Michael Detmar. "Lymphangiogenesis and Cancer Metastasis." US National Library of Medicine National Health Institutes of Health. N.p., 6 July 2009. Web. 7 Apr. 2014.